Latest news with #James Comer
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell set for Thursday: Sources
A senior Department of Justice official is expected to meet with longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell on Thursday in Tallahassee, Florida, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The Justice Department said earlier this week that the meeting between Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Maxwell would occur "in the coming days." "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," Blanche said in the statement posted by Attorney General Pam Bondi on X earlier this week. Maxwell's attorney confirmed earlier this week that they were in discussions with the government about the visit, saying in a statement that "Ghislaine will always testify truthfully." Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. She is serving her sentence at a federal prison in Tallahassee. Separately, on Wednesday, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer issued a subpoena for Maxwell for a deposition to occur at the prison on Aug. 11. "The facts and circumstances surrounding both your and Mr. Epstein's cases have received immense public interest and scrutiny," Comer wrote in a statement Wednesday. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
SCOOP: Dem fundraising giant ActBlue hit with subpoena by top House committees
FIRST ON FOX: Three House committees are banding together to subpoena Democratic fundraising giant ActBlue on Tuesday, accusing the platform of having accepted "fraudulent or illegal" donations for left-wing candidates. "In light of allegations that online fundraising platforms that serve as conduits for political donations have accepted fraudulent donations from domestic and foreign sources, the Committees are conducting oversight to inform potential legislative reforms," House investigators' letter to ActBlue read. "To further our oversight and legislative reform efforts, on April 2, 2025, the Committees requested documents and communications related to internal misconduct and whistleblower retaliation at ActBlue. Although ActBlue initially provided documents voluntarily, it has since suspended its cooperation with the Committees. Therefore, the Committee on House Administration must resort to compulsory process to obtain the requested materials." The subpoena is being led by Committee on House Administration Chair Bryan Steil, R-Wis., House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Their letter said ActBlue had initially appeared to work with the House committees in April and May before having "abruptly changed course" in June. "ActBlue did not provide a legitimate legal basis for refusing future cooperation with the Committees, and instead made baseless and untrue allegations about the Committees' motives," the lawmakers said. The committees have been jointly investigating ActBlue ever since first raising concerns about their donation practices in 2023. At the time, Steil accused ActBlue of failing to properly account for private citizens' security by not requiring a CVV number for credit card donations. That has since changed, however, and ActBlue does currently require that information. His and other Republicans' probe has since expanded to question whether ActBlue accepted donations from foreign actors. Late last month, the committees subpoenaed current and former ActBlue employees to appear for transcribed interviews. They also previously subpoenaed ActBlue itself in October 2024. Their new subpoena to ActBlue and letter to CEO Regina Wallace-Jones is another escalation in the probe, however. In a statement to Fox News in late 2024, an ActBlue spokesperson accused Steil of perpetuating "inaccuracies and misrepresentations about our platform." "We rigorously protect donors' security and maintain strict anti-fraud compliance practices. We have zero tolerance for fraud on our platform," the spokesperson said at the time. The latest subpoena letter accused ActBlue of lying about the committees "improperly coordinating" with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the matter, and of giving a weak explanation for its lack of cooperation. "ActBlue alleges that the Committees are pursuing oversight for an improper purpose of fact-finding for a Department of Justice investigation. This assertion is inaccurate," the lawmakers said. "As we have explained, the Committees have a legislative interest in protecting the integrity of federal elections and upholding fundamental civil liberties by ensuring that online fundraising platforms are not vulnerable to bad actors, including foreign actors." The subpoena gives ActBlue a deadline of Aug. 12 to turn over documents lawmakers are seeking. Fox News Digital reached out to ActBlue for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Top Biden aide Annie Tomasini pleads the fifth on his mental health 'cover-up' as scheme widens
Joe Biden 's former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor Annie Tomasini has plead the fifth during an interview with lawmakers, making her the third Biden aide to do so. Tomasini invoked her right to remain silent and avoid incrimination during her closed-door interview with the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. The committee has been probing the extent of the Democratic president's mental decline was understood by his top staffers. The probe has focused on former staffers who would be privy to the most sensitive presidential discussions, and even those who may have operated the autopen. Tomasini's interview lasted less than an hour and videos show she did not answer any reporter questions on her way in or out of the private session. She has become the third former staffer of Biden to invoke their right to silence in the Oversight investigation. Joe Biden's personal physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, and Jill Biden's longtime aide Anthony Bernal, also pleaded the fifth amendment protections in recent weeks. Oversight Chairman James Comer noted that there's a pattern beginning to emerge as the Biden aides stonewall the investigators. 🚨🚨🚨 The third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden's cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment today. There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for… — Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 18, 2025 'The third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden's cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment today,' Comer wrote on X. 'There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy.' 'Annie Tomasini, former Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations, pleaded the Fifth when asked if Joe Biden, a member of his family, or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time.' She also pleaded the fifth when asked about classified documents being found in Biden's garage, if the former president instructed anyone to destroy or conceal classified documents at the Democrat's home or if she's conspired with anyone to hide information on the Biden family's business affairs, Comer shared. The Kentucky Republican said this is a 'historical scandal.' Last week, Comer accused O'Connor of a conspiracy to 'cover up' Biden's cognitive decline. O'Connor cited patient privilege as his reason for pleading the fifth. His lawyer, ahead of his testimony, expressed concern about what O'Connor would be able to say without violating doctor-patient confidentiality laws. David Schertler, O'Connor's attorney, said in a statement that the doctor 'asserted the physician-patient privilege, as well as his right under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in declining to answer questions from the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding his service as Physician to the President during the Biden Administration.' The physician was in charge of Biden's annual physical and repeatedly deemed Biden fit to hold office. Republicans charge the former president's inner circle engaged in a conspiracy to hide cognitive decline. Ahead of O'Connor's closed door sit-down, President Donald Trump's administration waived his ability to exert executive privilege, saying he needed to talk to Congress. A letter sent to him by the White House - obtained by the Daily Mail - informed him he did not have 'executive privilege' in the matter.
