Latest news with #EpsteinStrategy
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
What to Expect from the New Trump Tariffs - CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish - Podcast on CNN Podcasts
What to Expect from the New Trump Tariffs CNN This Morning 45 mins Dozens of new Trump tariffs are here and you're about to pay up. Where is all that extra cash going to go? Plus, reports swirled yesterday about a planned Epstein strategy meeting at the VP's house, but it apparently was called off. Why? Also on today's show: Trump and Putin are set to meet in the coming days ... ICE changes its hiring policy regarding age ... There's been recent sightings of strange things in the sky. What's the likelihood recent UFO sightings ares actually aliens?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump faces Ghislaine Maxwell conundrum
President Trump is facing a Ghislaine Maxwell problem. Publicly releasing testimony from Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein who was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges, could help satisfy Trump supporters who have clamored for more transparency around the Epstein case. But further elevating Maxwell would keep the Epstein controversy front-and-center after Trump and top GOP leaders in the House have spent weeks trying to tamp down outrage among their own base. At the same time, Trump's comments about Maxwell have in recent days fueled allegations from Democrats that he has something to hide because of his past ties to Epstein. Trump's name reportedly appears in the Epstein files, though the president has repeatedly distanced himself from Epstein and has not been accused of wrongdoing. Trump has declined to rule out a pardon for Maxwell, saying only that he has the power to do it but hasn't thought about her case. The administration raised eyebrows by moving Maxwell to a lower security prison in Texas. And Trump has continually praised Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche — his former personal attorney — for sitting down with Maxwell for interviews. 'I didn't discuss it with him, but anything he talked about with her, or the fact that he did that, not unusual, No. 1, and most importantly is something that would be totally above board,' Trump told reporters of Blanche's conversations with Maxwell. Administration officials are weighing whether to publicly release some of Maxwell's testimony to Blanche. The furor over the Epstein case, especially among some of Trump's vocal supporters, had engulfed the White House in recent weeks and infuriated the president, who felt it was overshadowing better headlines. The outrage has died down, coinciding with lawmakers leaving for August recess. But Maxwell's situation threatens to reignite the controversy, depending on what Trump and the administration do. Offering sympathy or clemency for Maxwell would invite bipartisan scrutiny, sources said. And releasing more information could come with legal restrictions. 'There's no question they're trying to thread the needle,' one White House ally told The Hill. CNN and Fox News reported that top administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Blanche were set to join Vice President Vance at his residence Wednesday night to discuss how to handle the ongoing Epstein saga, among other topics. Vance's office pushed back on the reporting, with a spokesperson asserting there was 'never a supposed meeting scheduled at the Vice President's residence to discuss Epstein Strategy.' Many Trump supporters, including some in Congress, have pushed for additional disclosures after the FBI and Justice Department last month stated Epstein did not have a 'client list' and that his 2019 death at his New York City jail cell was a suicide. Some prominent Trump allies have for years promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein's death and claims that a client list would reveal ties between Epstein and prominent Democrats. Epstein, accused in several cases of sex trafficking young girls, ran in high-powered circles with figures that included Trump, former President Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew and a number of other celebrities and ultrawealthy people. House GOP leaders sent members home a day early for August recess amid a logjam created by a push among some members to release more Epstein-related files. With lawmakers on recess and other issues taking over the news cycle, Trump has gotten some respite from the backlash related to Epstein. But the administration's interactions with Maxwell, and Trump's own comments about her, have kept interest in the case simmering. Maxwell met with Blanche over two days in recent weeks to share information about the Epstein case. ABC News reported that Maxwell did not say anything during the interviews that would be harmful to Trump. In the wake of those interviews, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison in Texas. Officials have not said why. 'I didn't know about it at all. No, I read about it just like you did. It's not a very uncommon thing,' Trump said when asked Tuesday if he'd approved of the transfer. The administration is now weighing whether to release audio or transcripts of the interview. Doing so would likely aid Trump in distancing himself from Epstein and satisfy some members of his base who would like to see more transparency. But it may also renew attention on the Epstein case as a whole, something Trump has attempted to squash. Maxwell, for her part, is asking for the Supreme Court to intervene in her case, and her attorney has said she is seeking 'relief' from her prison sentence. Sources cautioned that Trump, who famously in 2020 said he wished Maxwell well, must tread carefully in how he handles her case to avoid it creating a larger controversy. 'The president wants to move on. But they may come out with something slightly more transparent, a little more meat on the bone,' the White House ally said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump faces Ghislaine Maxwell conundrum
President Trump is facing a Ghislaine Maxwell problem. Publicly releasing testimony from Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein who was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges, could help satisfy Trump supporters who have clamored for more transparency around the Epstein case. But further elevating Maxwell would keep the Epstein controversy front-and-center after Trump and top GOP leaders in the House have spent weeks trying to tamp down outrage among their own base. At the same time, Trump's comments about Maxwell have in recent days fueled allegations from Democrats that he has something to hide because of his past ties to Epstein. Trump's name reportedly appears in the Epstein files, though the president has repeatedly distanced himself from Epstein and has not been accused of wrongdoing. Trump has declined to rule out a pardon for Maxwell, saying only that he has the power to do it but hasn't thought about her case. The administration raised eyebrows by moving Maxwell to a lower security prison in Texas. And Trump has continually praised Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche — his former personal attorney — for sitting down with Maxwell for interviews. 'I didn't discuss it with him, but anything he talked about with her, or the fact that he did that, not unusual, number one, and most importantly is something that would be totally above board,' Trump told reporters of Blanche's conversations with Maxwell. Administration officials are weighing whether to publicly release some of Maxwell's testimony to Blanche. The furor over the Epstein case, especially among some of Trump's vocal supporters, had engulfed the White House in recent weeks and infuriated the president, who felt it was overshadowing better headlines. The outrage has died down, coinciding with lawmakers leaving for August recess. But Maxwell's situation threatens to reignite the controversy, depending on what Trump and the administration do. Offering sympathy or clemency for Maxwell would invite bipartisan scrutiny, sources said. And releasing more information could come with legal restrictions. 'There's no question they're trying to thread the needle,' one White House ally told The Hill. CNN and Fox News reported that top administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Blanche were set to join Vice President Vance at his residence on Wednesday night to discuss how to handle the ongoing Epstein saga, among other topics. Vance's office pushed back on the reporting, with a spokesperson asserting there was 'never a supposed meeting scheduled at the Vice President's residence to discuss Epstein Strategy.' Many Trump supporters, including some in Congress, have pushed for additional disclosures after the FBI and Justice Department last month stated Epstein did not have a 'client list' and that his 2019 death at his New York City jail cell was a suicide. Some prominent Trump allies have for years promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein's death and claims that a client list would reveal ties between Epstein and prominent Democrats. Epstein, accused in several cases of sex trafficking young girls, ran in high-powered circles with figures that included Trump, former President Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew and a number of other celebrities and ultrawealthy people. House GOP leaders sent members home a day early for August recess amid a logjam created by a push among some members to release more Epstein-related files. With lawmakers on recess and other issues taking over the news cycle, Trump has gotten some respite from the backlash related to Epstein. But the administration's interactions with Maxwell, and Trump's own comments about her, have kept interest in the case simmering. Maxwell met with Blanche over two days in recent weeks to share information about the Epstein case. ABC News reported that Maxwell did not say anything during the interviews that would be harmful to Trump. In the wake of those interviews, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison in Texas. Officials have not said why. 'I didn't know about it at all. No, I read about it just like you did. It's not a very uncommon thing,' Trump said when asked Tuesday if he'd approved of the transfer. The administration is now weighing whether to release audio or transcripts of the interview. Doing so would likely aid Trump in distancing himself from Epstein and satisfy some members of his base who would like to see more transparency. But it may also renew attention on the Epstein case as a whole, something Trump has attempted to squash. Maxwell, for her part, is asking for the Supreme Court to intervene in her case, and her attorney has said she is seeking 'relief' from her prison sentence. Sources cautioned that Trump, who famously in 2020 said he wished Maxwell well, must tread carefully in how he handles her case to avoid it creating a larger controversy. 'The president wants to move on. But they may come out with something slightly more transparent, a little more meat on the bone,' the White House ally said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Whole thing is a hoax': Donald Trump, JD Vance dismiss report on Epstein dinner meeting; calls it 'fake news'
US President Donald Trump dismissed allegations during a press conference, using strong language to refute media reports about Vice President JD Vance organising a dinner with senior officials regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. "Look, the whole thing is a hoax," Trump said. "It's put out by the Democrats because we've had the most successful six months in the history of our country and that's just a way of trying to divert attention to something that's total bullsh*t. OK?" The remarks came on Wednesday during a media session following Trump's announcement about Apple's $600 billion US investment. Vance addressed the matter briefly, rejecting the journalist's report about the Epstein dinner as inaccurate. "It's completely fake news," Vance said. "We're not meeting to talk about the Epstein situation and I think the reporter who reported it needs to get better sources." E by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Man Saves Pennies For 45 Years, Then Realizes What They're Worth Undo arlier that day, CNN had reported that Vance, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, were scheduled to meet at the vice president's residence. William Martin, Vance's communications director, issued a statement to The National News Desk saying, "The CNN story is pure fiction. There was never a supposed meeting scheduled at the Vice President's residence to discuss Epstein Strategy." CNN, citing three sources, reported that the officials intended to develop a coordinated response regarding Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. According to two sources, the White House considered all attendees except Vance as key figures in managing files related to Epstein's alleged child sex trafficking case.
CNN
4 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Vance dinner seen as potential way to clear the air between Bondi and Patel on Epstein scandal
A dinner scheduled Wednesday night at Vice President JD Vance's residence was seen as an opportunity for Trump administration officials to realign amid the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, according to four people familiar with the situation. That would include a potential chance for Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, who had been at odds over the response, to clear the air. As of Wednesday afternoon, administration officials familiar with the meeting said the dinner was now in flux, given its intense coverage, and it was unclear whether it would ultimately be called off, moved to another location or rescheduled. Bondi and Patel's tense relationship was thrown into the spotlight last month after a contentious White House meeting with chief of staff Susie Wiles over the handling of the Epstein case. That meeting also prompted questions about FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino's future with the administration. In the hours and days after the blowup, Vance tried to smooth over the conflict, fielding calls from Bondi, Patel and Bongino in between rides with his family at Disneyland. The vice president achieved his mission, one person familiar told CNN, and Bongino went back to work the next Monday — though three administration officials said they believe he will likely eventually leave his post and return to hosting his podcast once the Epstein blowback subsides. Vance was expected to reprise his peacemaker role again Wednesday. Sources told CNN the dinner would be a good opportunity to realign. 'It's a way to get everyone together in an informal, low-stakes situation,' one source briefed on the dinner told CNN. CNN previously reported that Wiles, Bondi, Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche were expected to gather at Vance's residence Wednesday evening as the administration weighs whether to publish an audio recording and transcript of Blanche's recent conversation with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The administration's handling of the Epstein case, as well as the need to craft a unified response, was expected to be a main focus of the dinner. Vance's office denied such a meeting was taking place. 'As we've said publicly, there was never a supposed meeting scheduled at the Vice President's residence to discuss Epstein Strategy. Any reporting to the contrary is false,' William Martin, Vance's communications director, said in a statement. The Justice Department declined to comment, deferring to the vice president's office. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Despite talks of canceling the dinner, two officials said it could still take place, though the location may change. They argued the focus of the meeting would likely be broader than solely discussing the administration's handling of the Epstein case. The group sitdown, if it moves forward, comes after Patel had been traveling for several weeks, opening field offices in New Zealand and Australia. Some officials said they believe this could be the ideal time for a reset, as the White House seeks to reclaim the narrative around the Epstein case and present a unified front after weeks on the defensive. Months before the Department of Justice released a memo on the Epstein case that contradicted many of the conspiracy theories surrounding the investigation, tension was already quietly building between the FBI and Department of Justice, multiple sources told CNN. FBI leadership griped behind closed doors that Bondi was spending more time on Fox News talking about the Epstein files than actually reviewing them, despite the agency having delivered the files to her office weeks prior, those sources said. FBI officials cringed when Bondi indicated in a Fox News interview in February that the Epstein client list was sitting on her desk, those sources added, as it had already been determined that there was no official client list that would be released. And when the memo — which contradicted many of the conspiracy theories circulating in far-right circles about Epstein — was finally released, it was Patel and Bongino who bore the brunt from the MAGA right, after they'd repeatedly promised full transparency. During the meeting with Wiles last month, Bondi, Patel and Bongino clashed over the handling of the investigation and Bongino was accused of leaking negative stories about Bondi. The deputy director denied the allegations and stormed out of the meeting, later telling Patel and others that he might not return to his post.
