logo
Top Oversight Dem: ‘We need to keep the pressure' on Epstein files

Top Oversight Dem: ‘We need to keep the pressure' on Epstein files

Yahoo20-07-2025
Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, urged lawmakers to keep pushing for the release of the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files as the White House has attempted to tamp down on the issue.
'Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. We know that,' Garcia asserted on MSNBC Friday. 'It's time for the whole truth to come out.'
Garcia previously pledged to launch a probe into Attorney General Pam Bondi and other top Trump officials, although he cannot force the Oversight Committee to take any action without the support of at least some of its Republican members.
President Trump on Friday instructed the Justice Department to seek the release of grand jury testimony. The department filed motions in federal court later in the day to unseal the transcripts.
'I have asked the Justice Department to release all Grand Jury testimony with respect to Jeffrey Epstein, subject only to Court Approval,' Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday. 'With that being said, and even if the Court gave its full and unwavering approval, nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request.'
'It will always be more, more, more,' he continued. MAGA!'
Garcia, in his Friday appearance, highlighted a discharge petition in the House circulated by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to force a vote on releasing information related to Epstein, the now-deceased financier and convicted sex offender.
The resolution now has at least 10 Republican cosponsors, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) alongside progressives like Khanna and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
Garcia is not yet an official cosponsor, but he has called on the Trump administration to release files related to the Epstein case.
If it garners majority support, the discharge petition would bypass the House's usual committee process and force a floor vote. That could happen as soon as the chamber returns from the August recess, Garcia said on Saturday.
'We'll see how serious the MAGA base and the MAGA Republicans actually are about releasing the files,' he said.
On Friday, Garcia also attacked Fox News for editing an interview with Trump last summer in a way that he views changed Trump's answer to a question about the release of the Epstein files.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How leaders can be transparent about their belief systems without alienating anyone
How leaders can be transparent about their belief systems without alienating anyone

Fast Company

timea few seconds ago

  • Fast Company

How leaders can be transparent about their belief systems without alienating anyone

Not long ago, leaders largely steered clear of the rough-and-tumble of politics. They inhabited a culture of impartiality, and for the most part stayed in their lane, rising now and then when called upon to offer observations about their specific sectors. Those times are over. We now live in an era of CEO activism, where shareholders, employees, and consumers expect corporate leaders to take a stand on issues far beyond their core industry—issues like immigration, DEI, or gender rights. Whereas before, hardly anyone outside of their industry could pick a chief executives out of a lineup, today's business leaders from Howard Schultz to Bill Gates to Elon Musk are household names, with the ability to influence public discourse—and policy—with a single tweet. For a business, there are distinct advantages to taking a political stand. At the same time, there is a fine line between brand enhancement and brand destruction. In this climate, how can a leader be transparent about her or his belief system without alienating anyone? Rewards and Risks First, it's hard, if not impossible, to reveal your belief system without alienating someone. It's almost a given: audiences and stakeholders these days may demand a political stand, but they can also be thin-skinned and easily offended when they don't agree with that stand. For the leader, the key is to avoid alienating significant portions of the constituencies and stakeholders responsible for the company's ultimate success: shareholders, employees, and consumers. When it comes to affiliating openly with a political figure or party, there can be advantages, such as privileged access and perhaps the ability to favorably influence policy direction. That said, there are also risks. Some of them are obvious: political fortunes are volatile, and public opinion is fickle, both of which can spell trouble for an aligned business. Political leaders have many priorities, and can shift their own positions on a dime, leaving a company that has publicly pledged allegiance with a case of whiplash. They are also prone to scandal, leaving aligned brands exposed to public outrage. Moreover, while there are certainly dangers in speaking out, silence can also have negative consequences in the public eye. It's important to realize that political parties, personalities, even movements come and go. Leaders are in this for the long haul; they should want their company to prosper for more than one election cycle. Recent events demonstrate the power of public opinion. The Trump administration's executive orders against diversity and inclusion initiatives split the business communities. Target rushed to align with the new directives, but Costco remained true to its own DEI stance. As a result, consumers punished Target and rewarded Costco. Staying true to the core Remember that politicians are paid to be politicians. Executives are not. Leaders are paid to ensure a company grows and prospers far into the future. That might mean rubbing elbows with those in power, or even contributing to campaigns, but it does not have to mean selling the soul of your identity, i.e. politicizing the brand or dragging a company's image (along with you) for the sake of a small short-term advantage. Reputations are hard to rebuild, and customers, once lost, are hard to reclaim. While a leader's personal beliefs may inform actions both private and professional, there are a few basic principles that can act as guardrails, providing the freedom to be transparent while preventing the leader's viewpoints and actions from creating conflicts and harming the company's fortunes. 1. Focus on values, not politics Nobody expects an executive and a workforce of thousands to agree on every issue. But a leader can set the tone by emphasizing core organizational values rather than personal political opinions. Companies are strongest when they articulate and consistently adhere to a clear set of values—regardless of shifting political winds. 2. Tie beliefs to business mission As a leader, you are a steward of your company's mission—not a political spokesperson. If your personal convictions align with your business's purpose, express them in a way that supports that mission. If they don't, reflect on whether your current role aligns with your values. A CEO thrives when personal belief and business purpose reinforce one another. 3. Build credibility through consistency While political trends are fickle, brand trust is built over time. Consumers reward companies that consistently uphold their stated commitments—whether to sustainability, product quality, or inclusion. Consistency is credibility. 4. Respect dissent, invite dialogue Foster a culture where respectful disagreement is welcome. Employees should feel safe expressing differing opinions without fear of retaliation. Provide spaces—forums, listening sessions, anonymous feedback tools—for difficult conversations to happen constructively. Diversity of thought is a strength, not a liability. 5. Be strategic If you choose to speak out, do so with intention. Consult your communications team, evaluate stakeholder impact, and conduct a risk-benefit analysis. As Harvard Business Review contributors Aaron Chatterji and Michael W. Toffel advise: 'Select issues carefully, reflect on the best times and approaches to get involved, consider the potential for backlash, and measure results.' Who's doing it right? A number of well-known CEOs have made a point of voicing their beliefs, and have not suffered for it. On the contrary, they have developed a leadership style that manages to be both values-informed and advantageous from a business standpoint. 1. Satya Nadella (Microsoft). Nadella openly discusses empathy and his Hindu faith, speaking often of caring for his son with special needs. He is upfront about his personal values of humility and purpose, but does not impose these upon the firm directly, emphasizing instead organizational culture and customer impact. Under his watch, Microsoft has quadrupled its market capitalization. 2. Dan Schulman (former CEO, PayPal). Schulman has been vocal in support of social justice and economic inclusion, which he links to his personal Jewish ethical values. PayPal pulled out of North Carolina to protest anti-LGBTQ legislation, a move that was criticized by the right but rewarded by stakeholders, with shareholder returns remaining strong. 3. Rose Marcario (former CEO, Patagonia). Markario's Buddhist beliefs and environmental ethics were strongly aligned with Patagonia's corporate mission. So when the company sued the Trump administration over its intention to dismantle and sell off national monuments, it mobilized the company's core outdoor audience and strengthened the brand, with increases in both consumer loyalty and profits. 4. Ken Frazier (former CEO, Merck). In 2017, Frazier resigned from President Trump's American Manufacturing Council following the administration's tepid response to the white supremacist marches and ensuing violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Frazier's action was seen as deeply principled, and Merck's shareholder value was not damaged. Other CEOs (UnderArmour, Intel, et al) followed suit, in part because Frazier's action created a public demand for moral leadership. Finding balance In the end, leaders must balance their own need to reveal their personal beliefs with the greater good of the organization. This is both an internal and external journey that requires a high degree of reflection as well as an appreciation for the complexity of the company and its role in both the market and society. It's an extremely challenging time to be a leader, but also an exciting one.

Man injured in shooting during large gathering in Philadelphia's Frankford section, police say
Man injured in shooting during large gathering in Philadelphia's Frankford section, police say

CBS News

time2 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Man injured in shooting during large gathering in Philadelphia's Frankford section, police say

Philadelphia police are investigating a shooting that happened at a large gathering in the city's Frankford neighborhood Saturday night. Officers responded to the 1600 block of Orthodox Street in Frankford after hearing 10 shots were fired and people were spotted running away from a large gathering in a vacant lot just before 11:45 p.m., according to police. Police arrived and spoke with a man bearing a rifle who said he was working security for the event. Investigators believe an altercation happened where another armed man threatened a member of the security team. Police believe the security guard with the rifle responded to the threat by firing his weapon. Investigators later found the man who made the threat and recovered a 9mm firearm from him. Police said they brought the man to the hospital for a leg injury that turned out to be a gunshot wound. Investigators recovered four fired cartridge casings from the scene. The Shooting Investigation Group is investigating the incident.

Rubio downplays 2028 talk, touts Vance as Trump's successor
Rubio downplays 2028 talk, touts Vance as Trump's successor

Fox News

time2 minutes ago

  • Fox News

Rubio downplays 2028 talk, touts Vance as Trump's successor

Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed speculation that he could be the Republican Party's 2028 presidential nominee, instead throwing his support behind Vice President JD Vance. "I think JD Vance would be a great nominee if he decides he wants to do that," Rubio said during an interview with Lara Trump that aired on the Fox News Channel Saturday. Rubio also described Vance as one of his "closest friends in politics." He went on to commend Vance's performance as vice president during the segment on "My View with Lara Trump" and made clear he is satisfied with his current role in President Donald Trump's Cabinet. "I want to do this job as long as the president allows me to," Rubio added. Trump appointed Rubio to serve as the nation's top diplomat shortly after defeating then–Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Rubio, previously a Republican senator representing Florida, was among the first confirmed to Trump's Cabinet. "I believe that if I am able to be here, through the duration of this presidency, and we get things done at the pace that we've been doing the last six months, I'll be able to look back at my time in public service and say I made a difference, I had an impact, and I served my country in a very positive way," Rubio told Trump. "And I would be satisfied with that as the apex of my career," he added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store