Trump's Health: President Diagnosed with Chronic Condition
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Boston Globe
19 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Trump sues Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over reporting on Epstein ties
Trump promised a lawsuit after The Wall Street Journal described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein's 50th birthday. Trump denied writing the letter, calling the story 'false, malicious, and defamatory.' The letter revealed by The Wall Street Journal was reportedly collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a birthday album for Epstein years before the wealthy financier was first arrested in 2006 and subsequently had a falling-out with Trump. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The letter bearing Trump's name includes text framed by the outline of what appears to be a hand-drawn naked woman and ends with, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' according to the newspaper. Advertisement The outlet described the contents of the letter but did not publish a photo showing it entirely or provide details on how it came to learn about it. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. The Justice Department asked a federal court on Friday to unseal grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein's case at the direction of President Donald Trump amid a firestorm over the administration's handling of records related to the wealthy financier. Advertisement The move — coming a day after a Wall Street Journal story put a spotlight on Trump's relationship with Epstein — seeks to contain a growing controversy that has engulfed the administration since it announced that it would not be releasing more government files from Epstein's sex trafficking case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed motions urging the court to unseal the Epstein transcripts as well as those in the case against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Epstein killed himself in 2019 shortly after his arrest while awaiting trial. The Justice Department's announcement that it would not be making public any more Epstein files enraged parts of Trump's base in part because members of his own administration had hyped the expected release and stoked conspiracies around the well-connected financier. Trump's demand to release the grand jury transcripts came after The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday on a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein's 50th birthday. The letter bearing Trump's name includes text framed by the outline of what appears to be a hand-drawn naked woman and ends with, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' according to the newspaper. The outlet described the contents of the letter but did not publish a photo showing it entirely. Trump denied writing the letter, calling it 'false, malicious, and defamatory' and promised to sue. Trump said he spoke to both to the paper's owner, Rupert Murdoch, and its top editor, Emma Tucker, and told them the letter was 'fake.' Advertisement 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures,' the president wrote on social media. The Justice Department said in the court filings that it will work with with prosecutors in New York to make appropriate redactions of victim-related information and other personally identifying information before transcripts are released. 'Transparency in this process will not be at the expense of our obligation under the law to protect victims,' Blanche wrote. But despite the new push to release the grand jury transcripts, the administration has not announced plans to reverse course and release other evidence in its possession. Attorney General Pam Bondi had hyped the release of more materials after the first Epstein files disclosure in February sparked outrage because it contained no new revelations. A judge would have to approve the release of the grand jury transcripts, and it's likely to be a lengthy process to decide what can become public and to make redactions to protect sensitive witness and victim information. The records would show testimony of witnesses and other evidence that was presented by prosecutions during the secret grand jury proceedings, when a panel decides whether there is enough evidence to bring an indictment, or a formal criminal charge.
The Hill
19 minutes ago
- The Hill
DOJ asks judge to unseal Epstein, Maxwell grand jury testimony
The Justice Department (DOJ) asked a federal court on Friday to unseal the grand jury transcripts in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche filed two different, almost identical, motions to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to release the transcripts of the man convicted of sex-trafficking minors and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The motions state that even though the DOJ and FBI remain confident about the July memo, which indicated there was no evidence of a 'client' list and confirmed that Epstein died by suicide, the court should unseal the testimonies out of 'public interest.' The move comes amid furor over the release of the so-called Epstein files, particularly among some of Trump's staunchest supports. The DOJ will work to remove the names of potential victims and 'other personal identifying information' before the transcript is released, the motions state. It is rare for a grand jury transcript to be released due to sensitive information; however, it can be done if there is enough public demand. There is still no information on how long it will take the court to unseal the files. The DOJ has not immediately responded to requests for comment. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal released a bombshell repor t about a letter President Trump reportedly sent to Epstein for his 50th birthday. The letter includes a drawn picture of a naked woman and the words 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump refuted the allegations and is now suing the reporters and the paper's owner Rupert Murdoch. Friday's motion comes after the president directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the 'pertinent grand jury testimony', in an attempt to calm criticism about the administration's handling of the case. 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!,' Trump posted on Truth Social. The administration in recent weeks has faced increased pressure from Republicans and Democrats alike to share more information about the case, prompting frustration from the president. 'I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country's history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats' work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!'
The Hill
19 minutes ago
- The Hill
Tourists to US may face new $250 ‘visa integrity fee'
Tourists, international students and business travelers may be required to pay a $250 fee when visiting the United States on a non-immigrant visa. The new provision applies solely to visitors from countries that require a non-immigrant visa for entry, as outlined in the 'big, beautiful' spending bill signed by President Trump, according to the Envoy Global law firm. No formal start date has been announced to begin the collection of the 'visa integrity fee.' Starting in 2026, the $250 price could increase to accommodate inflation, per the law firm. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be tasked with determining the final amount required for entry purposes. Visitors can be reimbursed for the fee if they abide by the terms of their visa per the legislation and those who are denied entry will not be charged. However, the provision says compensation is required and cannot be waived and must be paid on top of a charge attached to foreign nationals' arrival/departure Record known as 'Form I-94 fee.' The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also raised the form price from $6 to $24. Some say the new measure will roil travel plans amid major events set to be hosted in the U.S., including the 2028 Summer Olympics. 'This legislation is a giant step in the right direction when it comes to improving America's travel infrastructure and security. Bold, necessary investments in air traffic control and Customs and Border Protection will make a meaningful difference in the traveler's experience,' said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman in a July 3 statement. 'The smart investments in the travel process make foolish new fees on foreign visitors and reductions to Brand USA, America's promotion arm, that much harder to swallow. Making America the world's most visited destination—and capitalizing on the upcoming World Cup and Summer Olympics—requires smarter policy and legislative changes that we are already pursuing,' he added. The new requirement comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration and uptick in removal efforts through repeated raids.
