Latest news with #Maryland
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
By ELENA SALVONI
Donald Trump has labelled the Jeffrey Epstein files 'boring' and said he doesn't understand why people continue to be interested in the case, as accusations of a cover-up continue to mount. The President has shown growing frustration with questions about the files, and shook his head when asked why his supporters in particular 'have been so interested [in the case] and so upset with how it's been handled'. 'He's dead for a long time,' Trump said of the disgraced financier. 'He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody.' The Epstein files, a collection of redacted documents relating to Epstein's case, were believed by many to contain the name of the sex trafficker's list of associates. Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi teased a full release of the evidence, even at one point suggesting a 'client list' was on her desk, but last week an FBI and Department of Justice memo said 'no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.' The files, said to include a thousand hours of video footage depicting child sexual abuse, did not include evidence of a client list, according to the memo. The refusal to release the documents has incensed members of the MAGA movement, with Trump allies calling for 'transparency' and some supporters saying they felt 'betrayed' by the backtracking. Spoke to reporters after landing in Maryland on Air Force One, Trump said of the notorious files: 'It's pretty boring stuff. It's sordid, but it's boring, and I don't understand why it keeps going.' Avoiding reference to criticism from his supporters and allies, Trump went on: 'I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going. 'But credible information? Let them give it - anything that's credible, I would say, let them have it,' he added. Facing pressure from MAGA supporters, Trump had earlier said that Bondi should release 'whatever she thinks is credible' in terms of documents pertaining to the case. He shared a similar statement on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday, praising Bondi's work while also urging supporters to turn their attention elsewhere. 'One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it's the 'HOTTEST' Country anywhere in the World. Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about,' he wrote. Asked yesterday whether he specifically was named in the files, Trump said: 'No, no,' before adding that Bondi had 'given us just a very quick briefing' on their contents. He then baselessly accused James Comey, the former director of the FBI under President Obama, of 'making up' the files. 'These files were made up by Comey, they were made up by Obama, they were made up by the Biden [administration],' he said. Trump made similar claims that the Democrats were to blame in his series of Truth Social posts on Saturday, writing: 'They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher that they used on me, and now my so-called 'friends' are playing right into their hands. 'Why didn't these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didn't they use it?' On Monday, Republican lawmakers blocked a Democrat-led effort to force the release of the Epstein files. Republicans for their part pointed out that the files were also not released under previous presidents, including Joe Biden. Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump said he would have 'no problem' looking into the Epstein client list. He went on to appoint MAGA proponents of Epstein conspiracy theories, including FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who previously made broad accusations of corruption and abuse. But these figures are now part of an administration defending the decision not to release the files, with rifts reportedly opening up between Bongino and Bondi. Back in February, Bondi told Fox News that a list of Epstein clients was on her desk for review. Questioned by reporters about the claim in recent days, her spokesman clarified that she had been referring to files in the case generally. Conspiracy theories over Epstein's death in prison and potential evidence in his sex trafficking case, have long been a fixation for the right. These were once encouraged by Trump himself, but now it seem he would like to move on from the case. Meanwhile some of his most influential allies have refused, including House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, have called for 'transparency'. The debacle has left the MAGA movement divided, with leading voices including Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Steve Bannon and Megyn Kelly also joining the call for the files to be released. MAGA loyalists, among many others, have long theorized that the financier did not kill himself in his cell in 2019, as the coroner ruled. Trump was friends with Epstein and a neighbour of his in Florida for years, once describing him as a 'terrific guy'. 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,' Trump said in an interview in 2002. But he distanced himself from the disgraced financier during his first presidential campaign and later said they had a 'falling out'.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Maryland teacher claims in lawsuit he was falsely branded 'racist' over seating chart dispute
A Maryland high school teacher is taking legal action, claiming he was accused of being a racist after a classroom dispute over seating assignments was mishandled by the school administration. Dan Engler, a former health and English teacher and head coach of the rowing team at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (B-CC) in Montgomery County, filed a lawsuit against Principal Shelton L. Mooney and the Montgomery County Public School Board, accusing them of defamation and violating school policy in their handling of a February 2023 classroom incident. According to the complaint, two students in Engler's first-period health class asked to sit next to their friends instead of in their assigned seats. Engler, citing the importance of using a seating chart to learn student names and avoid confusion, asked the students — who are Black — to return to their assigned seats. The students refused and remained where they were. Later that day, the students reported the interaction to the assistant principal, alleging Engler told them he would not be able to tell them apart from other students, believing this to be a racial comment. "Part of the misunderstanding may have stemmed from an incident in Engler's English class the previous spring," his attorney wrote in the opposition to the defendants' motion for summary judgment. The filing explained that Engler had read a quote from Muhammad Ali containing a racial slur, which offended some students. Engler apologized, and an investigation determined it was not a "hate bias incident." The students involved in the health class had reportedly heard about the English class incident and had previously asked not to be placed in Engler's class, believing him to be racist. Following the students' report, Principal Mooney was instructed by his superiors to follow the "hate bias incident" protocol. The next day, he informed Engler that he would be placed on paid administrative leave for one day while the incident was under investigation. Two days after the incident, Mooney sent a community-wide email to parents, teachers, staff and students reporting that a "hate bias incident" had occurred at the school. The message said that "several African American students" were told by a teacher that he was "unable to distinguish them from other African American students" in the classroom and that the Montgomery County Police Department had been notified as an internal investigation was ongoing. "Let me be clear, discrimination of any kind must not be tolerated," Mooney wrote before citing the school policy against "insensitivity, disrespect, bias, verbal abuse, harassment, bullying, physical violence or illegal discrimination toward any person." Although Engler was not named in the email, he said he was quickly identified by students, parents and colleagues. He maintains that he did not make the statement attributed to him in the letter and he "did not do anything that could reasonably be classified as a 'hate bias incident.'" The complaint alleges that Engler had his "reputation destroyed by the malicious acts of B-CC's Principal, Defendant Shelton L. Mooney, who falsely accused Engler of racism in a thoughtless, half-baked community-wide email." The lawsuit further claims that Mooney and the school board violated MCPS policies and procedures by sending the community-wide email before an investigation was completed and that they refused to issue a retraction or apology. When Engler returned to work the following week, Mooney allegedly "refused to discuss the matter" with Engler. Upon returning to his classroom, Engler said he was "upset" to find MCPS and B-CC staff holding a "restorative justice" circle in his classroom that they excluded him from joining. Engler told Fox News Digital that the experience took a heavy toll on his mental health. The same day, he went on disability leave for a year and a half before resuming teaching at another school in the district. "I love teaching. I love coaching," he said. "And I really care a great deal about the relationships I have with those kids and helping them learn how to become adults in the best way possible. To lose the confidence of the kids, the trust of the kids, based on what the kids' leadership had to say about me, was devastating. It was identity stealing." According to the complaint, Engler ultimately faced no disciplinary action and the defendants' investigation allegedly failed to find sufficient evidence that the classroom incident constituted a "hate bias incident." "However, the damage to Engler had already been done. Mooney's malicious email falsely branded Engler a racist, destroying his reputation in the B-CC community, causing him deep emotional distress, making it impossible to continue teaching at B-CC, and causing the loss of his position as Head Coach of the B-CC Rowing Team," it continued. Engler criticized the school's handling of the incident as "a tremendous opportunity for virtue signaling." "It really was, and I'm paying the price," he told Fox News Digital. Engler said his reputation has been damaged, and the legal fight has cost his family over $300,000. After attempting to resolve the dispute through administrative proceedings, Engler filed a lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court in August 2023. Engler's case proceeded to trial on Monday. Fox News Digital reached out multiple times to the lawyers for the defendants on the allegations and did not receive a response. The MCPS Board of Education said it was unable to comment on pending litigation. Mooney did not return a request for comment.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Kilmar Abrego García may soon return to ICE custody. What happens next?
Kilmar Abrego García could end up back in U.S. immigration detention as early as Wednesday if a federal judge in Tennessee upholds a prior ruling ordering his release from criminal custody pending trial on human smuggling charges. But the scenarios for what could happen next for the Maryland man whose case has emerged as an example of the Trump administration's relentless mass deportation efforts vary dramatically.
CBS News
8 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Teen credited for saving siblings after air fryer caught fire in Harford County home
A 14-year-old girl is being credited for getting her siblings out of harm's way after an air fryer caught fire Tuesday afternoon in a Harford County townhome. Fire investigators said three children -- ages 4, 10, and 14 - were home alone and were cooking French fries in an air fryer when the 14-year-old smelled smoke, and then saw the air fryer on fire. She helped her younger brother and sister out of the Edgewood townhome and told a neighbor, who called 911, according to fire officials. Investigators said the 14-year-old remained calm, got her siblings out, and told an adult. Harford County deputies arrived first and closed the front door, which prevented further damage, according to investigators. Firefighters contained the bulk of the fire to the kitchen, with significant heat, soot, and smoke damage throughout the remainder of the home. Five family members from the home were displaced and assisted by Harford County Disaster Assistance. It took 15 minutes for firefighters to contain the fire. The estimated damage was $75,000 to the structure and the contents inside. If you own an air fryer, maintenance is important to prevent fires. According to CNET, constant cleaning of the air fryer basket after each use and cleaning the heating coils monthly are key to preventing grease fires. The Food Safety and Inspection Services says to never use water to put out a grease fire. Instead, use a kitchen extinguisher or cover the fryer with a metal lid and call 911. Also, don't overcrowd the air fryer basket or leave the air fryer unattended. In February 2023, popular kitchen appliances brand Cosori recalled two million air fryers after receiving 205 reports of the air fryers catching fire, burning, melting, overheating, and smoking, which resulted in injuries, including superficial burn injuries as well as property damage. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urged consumers to immediately stop using the products, which have a wire connection that is prone to overheating, raising concerns that the fryers could catch fire and burn or otherwise injure consumers. "After a thorough investigation, we determined that in extremely rare circumstances, the closed-end crimp connectors within the recalled air fryers — which are responsible for establishing electrical connections between certain wires — can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards," Cosori said in a statement on its website.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens' Secondary Questioned by Analyst
Ravens' Secondary Questioned by Analyst originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens believe they're in a Super Bowl window right now, and general manager Eric DeCosta tried to fill perceived roster holes in this year's draft and in free agency. Advertisement Baltimore added cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander in free agency and drafted safety Malaki Starks in the first round and corner Bilhal Kone in the sixth. Add that bunch to second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins and veterans Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton in the secondary, and you have one of the best in the league. But Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine wonders if it's enough to put the team over the top in the AFC. "There's no way around it. Anything less than a Super Bowl is going to feel like a disappointment in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson is squarely in his prime," Ballentine wrote. "Derrick Henry continues to prove he can defy the laws of NFL aging. The Ravens are likely to have one of the league's most unique and dynamic offenses once again. That leaves it up to the defense to set the ceiling for this squad. Last year, their cornerback depth was tested and failed. This year, they signed Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie. The veterans will join second-year players Nate Wiggins and TJ Tampa as candidates to play with Marlon Humphrey. Advertisement "Finding success in the AFC playoffs means beating the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. As good as Jackson is, the secondary has to be able to hold up their end of the bargain." Related: Ravens Place 2 Tight Ends in Top 10 ESPN Position Rankings Related: Ravens Safety Moves Up in NFL Position Rankings This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
