Latest news with #MikePence
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Conservatives mourn death of Heritage Foundation founder
The death of Ed Feulner, the co-founder of the Heritage Foundation, has sparked an outpouring of support from Republican lawmakers and leaders. Feulner helped start the Heritage Foundation in 1973 and served as its president for nearly 40 years. 'In the passing of Dr. Ed Feulner, the conservative movement has lost one of its true giants, and I have lost a mentor and cherished friend,' former Vice President Mike Pence wrote on the social media platform X. 'Ed simply understood that free markets, strong families and a robust national defense allow America to lead the world not just with strength, but by example.' The foundation is most recently known for leading Project 2025, the blueprint that has widely influenced the Trump administration's consolidation of power and aggressive pursuit of right-wing policies. Feulner also helped found the Republican Study Committee, the party's conservative caucus. 'Ed Feulner was one of the architects who built the conservative movement in this country,' Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the House majority leader and a former chair of the RSC, wrote on social media. Established during the Nixon administration, the Heritage Foundation played a prominent role in the policies of former President Reagan, who called it a 'vital force.' The think tank's current alumni in government include White House budget chief Russ Vought and border czar Tom Homan. In mourning Feulner, Republicans referred to him as an influential force who laid the groundwork in Washington for conservatism: a 'giant of the conservative movement' by Sen. Mike Lee (Utah), a 'lion for conservative causes' by Rep. Andy Biggs (Ariz.). 'His longtime leadership of @Heritage not only made it the intellectual engine of the Reagan Revolution, but forged a visionary philosophy that continues to shape our nation's public policy,' Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) wrote. 'The America we have — and the America we can secure in the future — is attributable to Ed in more ways than most people know,' Kevin Roberts, the current president of the Heritage Foundation, wrote on social media. 'ONWARD, sir—count on it—ALWAYS,' he added, ending with an American flag. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump asks Pam Bondi to release certain files on Epstein: ‘Subject to court approval'
President Donald Trump says he's asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to release certain Jeffrey Epstein files and relevant grand jury testimony: 'subject to court approval.' The president's directive follows weeks of uproar surrounding the handling of the so-called Epstein files and after Trump announced his plans to sue the Wall Street Journal after the paper published a bombshell report detailing a bawdy birthday card Trump allegedly gave to Jeffrey Epstein. A schism in MAGA world broke open after the Justice Department said there was no evidence to support the existence of a 'client list' of associates some claim Epstein blackmailed over their alleged involvement in his trafficking scheme. President Donald Trump says he's asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to release certain Jeffrey Epstein files and relevant grand jury testimony: 'subject to court approval.' (REUTERS) Now, several prominent Republicans, including Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence, have joined conservative influencers in calling for increased transparency around the case. On Thursday, the president seems to be caving in to the demands. Trump revealed he asked the attorney general to release more information into the highly scrutinized case in a Truth Social post Thursday evening. He wrote: 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!' Two minutes later, Bondi tweeted: 'President Trump—we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.' Trump posted his update within the hour of announcing his plans to sue the Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Rupert Murdoch 'shortly' over the paper's story detailing a bawdy birthday card that Trump allegedly gave to Epstein for his 50th birthday. The president said he warned he would seek legal if the story was published. 'Mr. Murdoch stated that he would take care of it but, obviously, did not have the power to do so,' he wrote. 'The Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Emma Tucker, was told directly by Karoline Leavitt, and by President Trump, that the letter was a FAKE, but Emma Tucker didn't want to hear that. Instead, they are going with a false, malicious, and defamatory story anyway.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Pence urges Trump to 'release all the files' on Jeffrey Epstein
Former Vice President Mike Pence urged the Trump administration to release all of the investigative findings related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a different stance his ex-boss took on July 16. During an interview with CBS News' Major Garrett, the former Indiana governor said the "time has come" for all the facts to become available to the American people, adding he's "always believed in transparency." Pence emphasized that the names of the victims should be excluded from any disclosure. "Whether or not the facts justify charges, I think anyone who participated or was associated with this despicable man ought to be held to public scrutiny," Pence told Garrett. Pence did not suggest the lack of transparency is politically motivated, but did hint that the investigation into the disgraced financier began during George W. Bush's administration and continued into Barack Obama's tenure at the White House. "I know of no reason why this administration — once the victims' names are protected — should not release all the files on Jeffrey Epstein," he said. The interview follows President Donald Trump's recent criticisms toward Republicans who raised questions about his administration's handling of the Epstein case. In a July 16 social media post, he described conservative backers as "stupid" and "weaklings" falling for Democrats' work. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. And my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,' hook, line, and sinker," Trump wrote. "They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years." USA TODAY reached out to the White House for comment on Pence's interview. Marjorie Taylor Green, Mike Johnson among calls for transparency Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, were among the Trump allies to push for transparency on the Epstein investigation. The calls came after the Justice Department released a memo earlier this month stating that a systematic review "revealed no incriminating 'client list" and that "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted." The memo also said the department found no evidence to support theories that Epstein was murdered while in custody, affirming New York's chief medical examiner's ruling that he died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. "No one believes there is not a client list," Greene wrote on a July 8 X post. In a July 15 interview with the Benny Johnson Show, Johnson also called for the release of more Epstein records, saying: "I'm for transparency." "It's a very delicate subject," he said. "But we should put everything out there and let the people decide." Trump says he doesn't understand 'fascination' with case Trump said he doesn't understand the "fascination" with the case, blaming "bad people" for the attention and coverage it continues to receive. "It's sordid, but it's boring," he told reporters on July 15,. "And I don't understand why it keeps going. Really only bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going." While Epstein died before sitting for trial, the registered sex offender pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008. Trump, who had a friendship with Epstein years ago, has appeared in legal documents concerning Epstein's crimes but is not implicated. Contributing: Zac Anderson, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Pence urges Donald Trump to release all the Jeffrey Epstein files
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump asks Pam Bondi to release certain files on Epstein: ‘Subject to court approval'
Following days of uproar surrounding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, President Donald Trump asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to release relevant grand jury testimony — 'subject to court approval.' A schism in MAGA world broke open after the Justice Department said there was no evidence to support the existence of a 'client list' of associates whom some claim Epstein blackmailed over their alleged involvement in his trafficking scheme. Now, prominent Republicans, including Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence, have joined conservative influencers in calling for increased transparency around the case. On Thursday, the president seems to be caving in to the demands. Trump revealed he asked the attorney general to release more information into the highly scrutinized case in a Truth Social post Thursday evening. He wrote: 'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!' He posted the update within the hour of announcing his plans to sue the Wall Street Journal over its story detailing a bawdy birthday card that Trump allegedly gave to Epstein for his 50th birthday.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's former VP says that anyone associated with 'despicable' Epstein 'ought to be held up to public scrutiny.'
Mike Pence is the latest Republican to call on President Donald Trump to release the government's files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 'I think the time has come for the administration to release all of the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein's investigation and prosecution,' Trump's former VP said in interview with CBS News on Wednesday. 'I just think we ought to get the facts to the American people. I've always believed in transparency,' Pence said, adding that 'anyone who participated or was associated with this despicable man ought to be held up to public scrutiny.'
