Latest news with #EpsteinClientList
New York Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
In Epstein, Democrats Find Unlikely Weapon Against Republicans
In his last news conference before House members left Washington for a five-week summer break, Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader, attacked Republicans for their signature tax cut legislation, accusing them of taking food and health care from poorer Americans to bolster the wealthy. Then, he ceded the lectern to Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the No. 2 Democrat, who made a jarring pivot to a different topic. 'Instead of standing up for kids, for families, instead of standing on the side of transparency and accountability, Republicans are running away — all to avoid the release of the Epstein client list, all to cover up for pedophiles,' Ms. Clark said on Wednesday. Shut out of power in Washington, Democrats have been searching all year for ways to throw a wrench in the works of Congress and gain the upper hand against a Republican majority that routinely bulldozes over them. They have focused relentlessly on making the economic case against President Trump's agenda, bashing Republicans for backing policies they argue will hurt ordinary Americans. But the deep G.O.P. fissure over the Trump administration's refusal to release files on Jeffrey Epstein despite promises to do so has shaken that focus, giving Democrats an opening they have eagerly seized to gum up the works at the Capitol and stoke public anger about how Republicans are governing. Over the past two weeks, Democrats have effectively paralyzed the House floor by insisting at every turn on forcing votes Republicans do not want to cast on whether to insist on the release of files related to Mr. Epstein, the financier who died by suicide while in federal custody on sex-trafficking charges. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Washington Post
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
A timeline of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, now 20 years old
Interest in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation has exploded over the past month even as President Donald Trump urged the public and media to move on from a saga he sees as ' pretty boring .' Conspiracy theories and outrage have swirled around Epstein since 2006, when the financier first faced criminal charges related to sexual exploitation of underage girls. He killed himself after more charges were brought in 2019. Fascination with the case reached new heights after Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested she had an Epstein 'client list' on her desk but then didn't release documents with any new information.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Why US President is beginning to lose male support
Donald Trump 's approval rating among men is declining, with a recent CBS /YouGov poll indicating 47 per cent approval compared to 54 per cent last October. This drop reflects a broader disapproval of Trump's second term, with his overall approval rating down by approximately 12 points since January. Key issues driving this decline include men's concerns about Trump's focus on deportations, his perceived inability to curb inflation, and his economic policies, particularly tariffs. A significant majority of men believe Trump has not done enough to lower prices and that his policies are increasing grocery costs. Trump is also facing criticism from his voter base and within the Republican party regarding his administration's handling of the alleged 'Epstein client list'.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Roundhouse Report: Stansbury trolls Trump over Epstein list
Stansbury trolls Trump on X over Epstein client list Democratic U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, an ardent critic of Republican President Donald Trump, capitalized on the controversy surrounding Trump and a supposed client list involving sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the infamous late financier who owned a sprawling ranch in Santa Fe County. Stansbury, New Mexico's most social media savvy member of Congress, posted a meme on X that poked fun at Trump's efforts to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America." "Just going to leave this right here," Stansbury wrote on the post, which included a map that identifies the body of water as the "Gulf of Donald Trump is on the Epstein Client List." The post on X has garnered more than 44,000 views and hundreds of comments. APTOPIX Trump Speech (copy) (copy) President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress in March 2025 as Rep. Melanie Stansbury holds a sign reading, 'This is not normal,' at the Capitol in Washington. It has generated mixed reactions. "You're still tied with [U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez] for the worst Rep. in the history of our State," commented Ricardo Romero. "But this is still really funny!" She posted the same image on Bluesky, where it has garnered fewer but more predominantly positive responses. "I should be allowed to retroactively vote for you a second time because you posted this a la verga," replied one New Mexico-based poster. Proposed transgender bathroom ban sparks backlash While advocating for a policy change that would prohibit transgender women from women's restrooms at the state Capitol, Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer of Farmington cited a crime victimization survey in New Mexico that found more than half of respondents reported having been either raped or sexually assaulted within their lifetime. "I've seen these studies that say half of all [New Mexicans] have been sexually assaulted, and that came from Source New Mexico, by the way,' he said during a meeting of the Legislature's Facilities Review Subcommittee. "This isn't some right-wing nut job case that came up with these numbers." Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, on the Senate floor in March 2025. The citation by Sharer, a conservative Republican, to make the case against transgender people's bathroom use didn't sit well with the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, which commissioned the survey. "We think it's important that your readers know these comments about the CSAP-commissioned survey are being taken out of context in ways that politicize survivors and attack transgender communities," Destiny Logan, a coalition spokesperson, wrote in an email Monday. The coalition's director, Alexandria Taylor, said in a statement the group wants "broad access to the data and report but it is imperative that the data is cited correctly, not removed from its context in an attempt to weaponize and politicize survivors while attacking transgender communities." She continued: "While the Crime Victimization report found that more than half of people in NM have experienced sexual violence, it also found that transgender New Mexicans were three times more likely to have experienced sexual violence than cisgender people. "Not engaging with the data as a whole prevents us from focusing on real solutions that address the root causes of sexual violence in our state. Misuse of the data risks perpetuating the very harm that the survey shows is experienced by so many New Mexicans of all genders. "We encourage anyone interested in the NM Crime Victimization Report, particularly policy makers, to read the full report at: "If you need support, the NM Sexual Assault Helpline is available 24/7. Call or text at 1-844-667-2457 or chat online at Reporter responds to 'incensed' reader As the state government reporter in the state's capital city, I'm used to seeing my name in the newspaper. Just not in the letters to the editor. The "peeing turns partisan" story about a proposed transgender restroom ban at the Roundhouse triggered a critical letter from reader Larry Weinberg, who wrote he was "once again" incensed by my reporting. Ouch. "Chacón gives Republicans the first and last word on this nonissue," he wrote, adding yours truly had failed to fact check Sharer's "ridiculous" assertion that half of all New Mexicans have been sexually assaulted. I take full responsibility for failing to provide a link to the survey that found a majority of New Mexicans have reported experiencing sexual assault, but I did review the survey ahead of filing the story to verify Sharer's claims. Weinberg also questioned "the details or even the existence" of an anonymous letter sent by legislative employees complaining about a transgender woman who was using the women's restroom at the state Capitol during the 60-day session. A lawmaker shared a copy of the letter with me during the session, and I saved it on my phone if anyone wants proof of its existence. Trump (copy) President Donald Trump speaks as first lady Melania Trump, left, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott listen during a roundtable discussion with first responders and local officials at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas, during a tour to observe flood damage, Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Trump admin asks New Mexico to share voter info The U.S. Department of Justice is asking the New Mexico Secretary of State to turn over voter information and enter into a "potential information-sharing agreement" to crack down on illegal voting. According to an email DOJ lawyers Paul Hayden and Scott Laragy sent to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver a week ago, any voter information the state turns over would be used to enforce Trump's executive order "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections." Issued in March, the order calls for among other measures stricter rules and enforcement to ensure only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections. Hayden and Laragy also wrote they would like the state to provide DOJ "with information on, among other things, individuals who have registered to vote or have voted in your state despite being ineligible to vote, who may have committed other forms of election fraud, who may have provided false information to state authorities on voter registration or other election forms, or who may otherwise have engaged in unlawful conduct relevant to the election process. With your cooperation, we plan to use this information to enforce Federal election laws and protect the integrity of Federal elections." The Trump administration has sent similar requests to a number of other states. New Mexico has not yet decided how to respond, BC Nguyen, elections outreach coordinator for the Secretary of State's office, wrote in an email. "We are still in the information gathering phase and do not have more details to share as to a planned response at this time," Nguyen wrote. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez answers questions after a news conference in April. Podcast hits pause after AG bails at last minute For the first time since its launch at the start of the 60-day session earlier this year, the Around the Roundhouse podcast went dark this week. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez was scheduled — and confirmed — to be the guest. But Torrez had to cancel about an hour beforehand due to what his office called an unexpected scheduling conflict. Lauren Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the AG, apologized for the last-minute cancellation and indicated Torrez would be available for a future podcast. "The Attorney General is eager to reschedule and have a meaningful conversation about the issues that matter most to New Mexicans," she said.
Sky News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
All we know about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein's 'friendship'
Donald Trump has been fending off pressure from his own Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement to release files related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein. The paedophile financier was found dead in his Manhattan prison cell in August 2019, shortly after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges. The president pledged to release files on Epstein during his campaign, as his MAGA movement accused the Biden administration of suppressing the extent of Epstein's paedophilia, predatory behaviour and his so-called "client list" - thought to contain names of the rich and famous who conspired with him in his child sex trafficking operation. But Mr Trump has made a controversial U-turn and instead started lashing out at supporters who are continuing to call for the files to be released. The saga has thrust Mr Trump and Epstein's former relations back into the spotlight. But what do we know about their history? Mr Trump and Epstein moved in the same circles in Florida and New York for many years, and were pictured together on several occasions in the 1990s and early 2000s, including at the real estate mogul's club in Palm Beach. There is now-infamous NBC News archive footage of the pair socialising in November 1992 at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, with the now-president appearing to point out women on the dance floor. 3:06 In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Mr Trump was quoted saying: "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it - Jeffrey enjoys his social life." Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. He was then arrested for a second time in 2019 and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy. 1:47 Trump was asked about his relationship with Epstein after he was found dead in his cell, and he played down the extent of their relationship. He said he "knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him", but added: "I had a falling out with him. I haven't spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you." Asked why the pair fell out, Mr Trump said: "The reason doesn't make any difference, frankly," and added that he had "no idea" about Epstein's crimes. Trump flew on Epstein's plane numerous times Epstein owned an island in the Caribbean, a location where he is known to have taken underage girls to abuse them. He had a private plane which he flew acquaintances in, and some of the flight logs have been released to the public. 19:39 👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈 Amid speculation in January last year, Mr Trump said on social media: "I was never on Epstein's Plane, or at his 'stupid' Island." But the flight logs indicated he flew on Epstein's plane at least seven times. There is no suggestion that Mr Trump was flown to the island. The logs indicate that on one of the trips between New York and Florida he was accompanied by his then-wife Marla Maples and their daughter, Tiffany, and another listed his son Eric as a passenger. Court documents name Trump Court documents relating to Ghislaine Maxwell, her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and alleged victims of sexual abuse were unsealed in January last year. The documents, which were part of a 2015 defamation case by Virginia Giuffre against Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, named Mr Trump, along with the likes of Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton. 1:09 A woman named Johanna Sjoberg gave testimony and said that while flying to Manhattan with Epstein, Maxwell, Ms Giuffre and Prince Andrew, the financier's jet was diverted to Atlantic City, New Jersey - where Epstein suggested going to one of Mr Trump's casinos. "The pilots told me to go back and tell [Epstein] that we can't land in New York and that we were going to have to land in Atlantic City," she said. "Jeffrey said, 'Great, we'll call up Trump and we'll go to' - I don't recall the name of the casino, but - 'we'll go to the casino'." She said she spent several hours with Epstein at a Trump casino but did not say if she met him. Mr Trump was not accused of any wrongdoing. Birthday letter from Trump to Epstein The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claims it has seen a letter written by Mr Trump as part of a collection of letters addressed to Epstein that his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell planned to give him as a birthday present in 2003. According to documents seen by the WSJ, Mr Trump's letter featured several lines of typewritten text framed by what appeared to be a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman. The paper said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret", and featured the signature "Donald", allegedly drawn across the woman's waist, meant to mimic the appearance of pubic hair. Mr Trump denied he wrote it in an interview with the WSJ prior to publication. "This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story," he said. "I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women," he said. "It's not my language. It's not my words." Later, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: "The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures." In 2017, Mr Trump drew a picture of the Empire State Building which sold at auction for $16,000 (£11,892). His Truth Social post continued: "I told Rupert Murdoch [WSJ's owner] it was a Scam, that he shouldn't print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I'm going to sue his ass off, and that of his third rate newspaper. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DJT." Falling out Any friendship that existed between Mr Trump and Epstein in the 1990s is said to have turned sour in the early 2000s. The New York Times reports that the pair fell out in 2004 over a foreclosed oceanfront Palm Beach mansion that Mr Trump outbid Epstein for. In 2006 Epstein was indicted as part of an FBI and Florida police investigation. Two years later he pleaded guilty in state court to two felony charges, including soliciting a minor, as part of a plea deal that avoided federal charges that would have meant far more serious prison time. There is little public record of Mr Trump and Epstein crossing paths from 2004 onwards. In 2019 Mr Trump said that he and Epstein had had a "falling out" and hadn't spoken for 15 years.
