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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Epstein files: Is it about justice for victims, or just politics
Editor's note: Welcome to Double Take, a regular conversation from opinion writers Melinda Henneberger and David Mastio tackling news with differing perspectives. MELINDA: What infuriates me about Jeffrey Epstein has little to do with Donald Trump, MAGA or politics of any kind. The tragedy of Epstein and his fancy friends, whoever they were, is what they did to those girls, period. That is why it chaps me when people say oh, they're so bored with this whole thing. You know who is not bored, because their lives were stolen before they really even got started? His victims, some of whom were as young as 14. We would know nothing about any of this without our brave McClatchy reporting colleague Julie K. Brown of The Miami Herald. And what she just said on a New York Times podcast with Ross Douthat that I highly recommend is that 'these girls' lives were essentially ruined, even if they had only gone to his house one time.' So no, the ennui is not killing me the way it is some of you who keep telling us how over it you all are even as you also keep writing about it as if it were some joke. (Hey, let's do Gérard Depardieu next!) It is not, as you wrote in comparing it to a 'Seinfeld' episode, 'a scandal about nothing.' Now you can tell me how you didn't mean it that way. DAVID: I'll give you two examples of what I mean by nothing. First there is The Sunday New York Times magazine story with the headline 'An accuser's story.' First the accuser was in her 20s at the time of the wrongdoing she complained of, not 14. Until the time the last man dies, men are going to chase young women in their 20s. It is not a crime and we shouldn't make it one. This isn't even up to the standards of having oral sex with your intern in the Oval Office bathroom. MELINDA: This is not about older men 'chasing' younger women. The story you reference begins this way: 'It was the summer of 1996 when Maria Farmer went to law enforcement to complain about Jeffrey Epstein. At the time, she said, she had been sexually assaulted by Mr. Epstein and his longtime partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. Ms. Farmer, then in her mid-20s, had also learned about a troubling encounter that her younger sister — then a teenager — had endured at Mr. Epstein's ranch in New Mexico. And she described facing threats from Mr. Epstein.' These events, as described, absolutely are crimes. And why are you euphemizing what we know happened? This is a man who, according to Brown, molested hundreds of girls. DAVID: That same accuser's story includes this 'to be sure' paragraph about what is in the Epstein files: 'The story of Ms. Farmer's efforts to call law enforcement attention to Mr. Epstein and his circle shows how the case files could contain material that is embarrassing or politically problematic to Mr. Trump, even if it is largely extraneous to Mr. Epstein's crimes and was never fully investigated or corroborated.' That seems to me to be a long-winded way of saying there is going to be a lot of nothing in the Epstein files. MELINDA: You glean from this that there is nothing worth knowing in the files? Again, Brown is the expert, and here's what she wrote in The Miami Herald months ago: 'Sources also said that the files are voluminous. There are 22 files containing over 500 pages in the FBI vault, a portal on the FBI's website accessible to the public. The bulk of those 11,000-plus pages are heavily redacted, and Justice Department prosecutors have fought their release for years. … One critical source of evidence against Epstein was in the discovery for a Florida civil case brought by Epstein's victims against the FBI in 2008. That case spanned a decade and included tens of thousands of pages of material that sheds light on how federal prosecutors mishandled that early case. Not all the FBI documents connected to that case — or the federal criminal case — in Florida have been made public.' DAVID: When Trump goes down in flames, it will not be because of allegations that may or may not be true and haven't been investigated. If the Wall Street Journal story from last week at the center of Trump's new lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch is an example of the kind of revelations about Trump that we can expect, then, yeah, I stand by my description of it as nothing. A naughty picture? Seriously? So what else did Julie Brown have to say to Ross Douthat? MELINDA: You are looking at this primarily as a story about Trump, but I am not. And no one should ever go down in flames — especially hard on straw men, I think — based on uninvestigated allegations. What I say is, finish the investigation and find out who else was responsible. Douthat asked Brown, 'Do you think it was just Epstein?' 'No, it wasn't,' she said. 'Because over the years a lot of women have come forward. … These women are scared to death.' Another question from Douthat: 'So, from your perspective, then, it is likely that there are some set of men in the world who move through Epstein's mansion — Epstein's island and so on — who are guilty of essentially having girls trafficked to them and in part, having sex with minors.' Here's her answer: 'That's correct.' DAVID: That sure would be a scandal, but it would be Epstein's scandal and he's dead. Anything going forward from here is going to have to be about Trump. And to get excited about what is supposedly in there, you have to believe that the Obama administration didn't leak it to save Hillary Clinton in 2016 and the Biden administration didn't release it in 2024 to save Kamala Harris. Not likely in my view. MELINDA: Why does it have to be about Trump? Stop looking at this as a political story for a minute and you might see what I see. Which is a man who damaged who knows how many lives. He died in jail because the judge denied bond, and the judge denied bond because Epstein's victims feared for their safety. Brown says they are still afraid now, and why would that be, if their only abuser is dead? I do not know the answer, but I want to. How about 'getting excited' — argh — about what more can be known just to see justice done? Run it all down and then we'll be done. No, I do not think the Democratic Party is run by pedophiles. And no, I never understood why one wing of MAGA was ever counting on someone who had a long friendship with Epstein and many allegations of sexual misconduct going back decades to be the man who was going to break up the party. But that doesn't mean Trump is implicated, either. I just want justice for those girls, even if the one you read about was in her 20s. Of course this story reminds me of one I covered for years, about former Kansas City, Kansas, detective Roger Golubski, who like Epstein was charged by the feds with sex trafficking. Golubski, too, acted with impunity for decades and then, on the morning he was supposed to show up for the first day of jury selection in his first federal trial, killed himself instead. No way did he act alone, either. I thought of him as a down-market Epstein a long time before the two of them chose the same way out. Two predators, two cowards, zero 'glee' from me. DAVID: Justice is a rare and delicate thing among us tragically flawed humans. It is nice when we can get it, but expecting it in this life is the road to disappointment. The main culprit died in jail. His main helper is in jail, too. That's pretty good for our flawed system. Often when we pursue perfect justice, what we get is worse. I don't think releasing a bunch of unvetted allegations gets us closer to justice especially if we protect the identities of those making the allegations as many of the efforts to release the Epstein files propose. Being able to face your accuser is among the things we've learned is necessary to get justice. It is time to let God judge Epstein as he will all those who preyed on young women with him. We need to let it go.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Miami Herald
Feds say woman faked immigration kidnapping in Los Angeles & 5 more legal cases
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country. Fake tutor tries to meet child for sex acts, feds say. Florida cops were waiting In Florida, Kevin Patrick Wilson, 39, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being accused of attempting to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex acts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida. Court documents say Wilson posed as a tutor in a Facebook group and communicated with an undercover detective posing as the girl's guardian. The sting operation led to his arrest on July 24, 2024,according to federal prosecutors. | Published July 15 | Read More Off-duty deputy threatens crypto businessman's rival inside CA mansion, feds say In California, two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies were charged with civil rights violations in connection with their work as private security for a cryptocurrency businessman, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Christopher Michael Cadman and another deputy were accused of intimidating a rival of the businessman, leading to a $25,000 transfer, federal prosecutors say. Cadman agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy against rights and a tax offense on July 14. | Published July 16 | Read More 'I'm gonna go postal.' Mail carrier purposely hits USPS vehicle in VA, feds say In Virginia, Lolita Brickhouse, 31, pleaded guilty to causing over $42,000 in damage after federal prosecutors say she purposely crashed into a USPS vehicle. The incident occurred after Brickhouse accused her co-workers of stealing her phone, leading to a violent outburst, court filings say. Brickhouse faces up to 10 years in prison for destruction of government property, according to prosecutors. | Published July 16 | Read More 21-year-old Army soldier hacks databases, threatens to leak stolen data, feds say Cameron John Wagenius, a former U.S. Army soldier, pleaded guilty to hacking and extortion charges after he was accused of accessing data from telecommunications companies, federal prosecutors say. Wagenius and his conspirators attempted to extort $1,000,000 and sold stolen data, according to court documents. He faces prison time, with sentencing scheduled for October, prosecutors say. | Published July 17 | Read More Woman fakes immigration kidnapping, then is found at CA shopping plaza, feds say Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, is accused of faking herimmigration kidnapping from downtown Los Angeles to solicit donations, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors say Calderon and her family falsely claimed she was abducted by masked men, but she was later found at a shopping plaza. Calderon is charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers. | Published July 18 | Read More Woman in crisis was stripped, strapped to chair at Florida ICE center, suit says A federal lawsuit in Florida says a woman was mistreated at an ICE facility, where guards stripped her and strapped her to a chair during a mental health crisis. The woman, a human trafficking survivor, was exposed and mocked by officers, according to the complaint. The lawsuit seeks damages and calls for the closure of the detention center. | Published July 18 | Read More McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.
Miami Herald
15-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Discoveries from the Arctic — ancient finds, disappearing islands amid ice melt
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. July 15 marks World Arctic Sea Ice Day, a campaign organized by Polar Bears International to raise awareness about the rapid loss of sea ice on our planet's northern cap. The Arctic is warming at a rate four times that of the rest of the planet, the organization says, leading to monumental losses of sea ice that can harm not only the ecosystem, but also the animals that call the region home. Just like soil in a forest, sea ice acts as the base of the frozen food chain, providing a place for algae to grow which is eaten by Arctic cod, who then in turn are eaten by predators like polar bears, according to Polar Bears International. Melting ice is causing changes to the shoreline, animal behavior and even leading to new archaeological discoveries as centuries-old artifacts are revealed for the first time. Take a look at some recent discoveries made in the frosty landscape, and how that landscape is changing: Melting ice and observant park ranger lead to 1,500-year-old hunting tool in Norway In Breheimen National Park, Norway, melting ice and a vigilant park ranger led to the discovery of a 1,500-year-old 'scaring stick,' used by ancient hunters to trap reindeer. This artifact, made from a young birch tree, was found flattened against rocks due to the pressure of snow and ice. The Secrets of the Ice team plans to explore more sites for similar discoveries. | Published Aug. 28 | Read More | Melting ice reveals centuries-old fabric items still 'beautifully preserved.' See them Archaeologists at Lendbreen glacier in southern Norway uncovered a beautifully preserved piece of textile likely from the medieval period or Viking age. The site also revealed other artifacts, including a leather or hide object and well-preserved Iron Age arrows. | Published Sept. 10 | Read More | Arctic explorers vanished in 1845. Now, cannibalized body of crew member identified Captain James Fitzjames, who vanished with his crew during the Franklin Northwest Passage expedition in 1845, has been identified through DNA analysis on King William Island, Nunavut, Canada. The discovery of Fitzjames' remains, marked by signs of cannibalism, sheds light on the desperate measures taken by the crew. | Published Sept. 30 | Read More | Schoolchildren check satellite images for island in Russia — then find it's missing In the Arctic Ocean, schoolchildren participating in a Russian program discovered that Mesyatsev Island had vanished due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. The island, which had shrunk significantly over the years, was completely submerged by September. | Published Nov. 12 | Read More | What do narwhals use their tusks for? First-of-its-kind drone footage offers clues Drone footage from the Canadian Arctic has provided new insights into the purpose of narwhal tusks, revealing their use in hunting and play. The footage shows narwhals using their tusks to stun fish and engage in playful behavior with Arctic char. This discovery highlights the tusks' multifunctional role and the adaptability of narwhals to their environment. | Published March 4 | Read More | Killer whales seen 'kissing' for the first time in the wild, photo shows In the Kvænangen fjords of Norway, above the Arctic Circle, snorkelers captured footage of two killer whales 'kissing' underwater. This rare behavior, observed for the first time in the wild, is believed to reinforce social bonds among juveniles. | Published June 27 | Read More |
Miami Herald
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
How hippies, nudity and old theaters shaped Miami's culture. See the images
South Florida How hippies, nudity and old theaters shaped Miami's culture. See the images See photos that show South Florida's earlier days. The pictures below focus on the influence of hippies, classic theaters and adult entertainment venues. A meeting of different generations in the Miami area in 1969. NO. 1: MIAMI WAS ONCE A HIPPIE HANGOUT. SEE HOW THE STREETS LOOKED DURING THE 1960S AND '70S Peace, love, drugs and long hair. | Published October 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives A 1950s premiere of 'Return of October' at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. NO. 2: DO YOU REMEMBER THESE OLD MIAMI MOVIE THEATERS? SEE WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE BACK WHEN They were like palaces. No multiplexes then. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives A showgirl from Place Pigalle By Joe Elbert NO. 3: INSIDE THE NAKED CITY: TAKE A LOOK AT OLD BURLESQUE THEATERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA Se where they took it all off through the years. | Published April 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Miami Herald Archives The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Vibrant fish found in pond as it dried up and 3 other new species discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent new species discoveries: 'Rainbow' creature with yellow eyes found in temporary pond. It's a new species In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scientists discovered a new species of killifish named Nothobranchius iridescens, or the rainbow seasonal killifish, in a temporary pond. This medium-sized fish, with males displaying vibrant rainbow colors and large yellow eyes, was found in ephemeral pools on floodplains. | Published July 2 | Read More | 'Large' creature seen running 'rapidly' on rocks in Angola. It's a new species In the coastal regions of southwestern Angola, researchers identified a new species of gecko called Rhoptropus megocellus, or the large-spotted Namib day gecko. These geckos, found on large granitic boulders, are notable for their large size and distinctive spotted patterns. | Published July 3 | Read More | 'Large'-eyed creature with 'gem'-like pattern found in pond. It's a new species A new species of fish, Lacustricola gemma, or the gem lampeye fish, was discovered in a shrinking pond in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This small fish is recognized by its iridescent scales and large silver eyes, resembling tiny gems. | Published July 7 | Read More | Trawlers catch deep-sea creature with regrown tail off India. It's a new species In the Arabian Sea off the coast of India, a new species of eel named Facciolella smithi, or Smith's witch eel, was discovered by commercial trawlers. These deep-sea dwellers are characterized by their elongated bodies and regrown tails. | Published July 1 | Read More | 'Large' camouflaged creature found on Angola rocks. It's a 'cryptic' new species In the savannas of southwestern Angola, researchers found a new species of gecko known as Rhoptropus crypticus, or the cryptic Namib day gecko. These 'large,' camouflaged lizards were discovered among boulders in a restricted area. | Published July 4 | Read More |
