Latest news with #PamBondi
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump news at a glance: Fallout from Epstein case widens as Trump threatens to sue WSJ
Growing pressure on the Trump administration has prompted the US president to direct his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking case. The announcement came as Trump seeks to tamp down controversy over a story published in the Wall Street Journal that alleges the US president contributed a sketch of a naked woman to Epstein's 50th birthday album. The president has said the letter is a fake, and that he will sue the publication over the story. The fallout over the Epstein case has also complicated House Republicans' plans to vote on Thursday on legislation demanded by Trump to slash government spending. Here are the key stories at a glance: The president said on Truth Social he had authorized the justice department to seek the public release of the materials, which are under seal, citing 'the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein'. Bondi, who has weathered days of accusations by Trump's far-right supporters that she had mismanaged and failed to deliver on promises to release previously secret documents about the Epstein case, responded to Trump's post with a post of her own that vowed to comply with the directive. The flurry of activity followed the Wall Street Journal report alleging that Trump had contributed the letter – described as 'bawdy' and featuring a drawing of a naked woman's silhouette around a typewritten personal message to Epstein – to an album compiled by Ghislane Maxwell for Epstein's 50th birthday. Trump denied to the Journal that he was the author of the tribute and, hours after the story was published, announced he intended to file a lawsuit against the publication. Read the full story The House of Representatives faces a Friday deadline to pass the rescissions package demanded by Trump and approved by the Senate. But before the House can vote on the package, it must be approved by the rules committee, where the Democratic minority has sought to capitalize on a growing furor among Republicans and their supporters over the Trump administration's handling of documents related to the Epstein case. The committee announced it would hold a hearing into the package on Thursday evening. Read the full story Donald Trump's efforts to dismiss the criticism over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as a 'hoax' showed no sign of working on Thursday as more prominent figures from across the political spectrum emerged to attack the US president and some of his supporters recorded videos burning their signature Make America Great Again hats. Read the full story Medicaid officials have reportedly made an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) to allow agents to examine a database of Americans' personal information – including home addresses, social security numbers and ethnicities. The data sharing agreement will allow Ice to find 'the location of aliens', according to an agreement obtained by the Associated Press. Read the full story Donald Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, the White House said on Thursday, after he noticed swelling in his legs. It is a fairly common condition among older adults, but requires a thorough checkup to rule out more serious causes of swelling in the legs. Read the full story Officials in Florida diverted crucial disaster preparedness and response resources to support the hasty construction of the so-called Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention jail by the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, a newly published report has claimed. Read the full story A delegation of US officials toured Alcatraz on Thursday as part of Donald Trump's pledge to reopen the shuttered federal prison and tourist attraction in the San Francisco Bay, amid an outcry from California leaders who have called the plan 'lunacy'. Read the full story Tens of thousands of people joined marches and rallies at more than 1,500 sites across all 50 US states on Thursday to protest against the Trump administration and honor the legacy of the late congressman John Lewis, an advocate for voting rights and civil disobedience. Read the full story Exclusive: Donald Trump's huge spending boost for the Pentagon will produce an additional 26 megatons (Mt) of planet-heating gases – on a par with the annual carbon equivalent emissions generated by 68 gas power plants or the entire country of Croatia, new research reveals. Read the full story Five migrants deported by the US to the small southern African country of Eswatini, under the Trump administration's third-country program, will be held in solitary confinement for an undetermined time, an Eswatini government spokesperson says. Thabile Mdluli, the spokesperson, told the Associated Press that Eswatini planned to ultimately repatriate the five to their home countries with the help of a UN agency. Read the full story Republican senators advanced Emil Bove's nomination to serve as a judge on a federal appeals court even as Democrats walked out in protest. The Coca-Cola company defended its use of corn syrup after Trump's claim that he had apparently convinced the brand to switch to using sugar cane in its US drinks. An Oregon father was arrested by Ice and taken into custody while dropping off his child at a preschool in the Portland-area, the agency confirmed. California governor Gavin Newsom threatens to redraw California House maps in protest over a Republican plan to pick up congressional seats in Texas. Catching up? Here's what happened on 16 July 2025.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump orders production of more Epstein material after mounting pressure
US President Donald Trump says he's ordered the justice department to produce some additional documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "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," Trump said in a social media post. It's unclear whether Trump is authorising the public release of these documents or when that could come - though such action would typically require the approval of a court. The development comes after days of sustained pressure from some of Trump's most loyal supporters demanding further disclosures in the Epstein case. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted minutes after the president: "We are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts." A grand jury is a group of citizens set up by a prosecutor to determine whether there is enough evidence for charges to be filed. In legal terms, it determines whether probable cause exists to believe a crime has been committed. Grand jury decisions still must be tested before a normal jury in court, in order for a suspect to be convicted of a crime. It is unclear whether the president's post concerned testimony from the first set of cases concerning Epstein in the early 2000s or whether it stemmed from the federal charges brought in 2019. Some grand jury documents have been already released concerning the case in Florida in 2006 that led to him being charged with solicitation of a prostitute. The case was heavily criticised over the lack of serious charges and the severity of the testimony given by victims, which included multiple minors. While campaigning last year, Trump promised to release files relating to the disgraced financier. However Bondi last week announced that the US justice department did not believe Epstein had a so-called client list that could implicate high-profile associates, and that he did take his own life - despite conspiracies over his death. That prompted furious response from scores of Trump's most ardent supporters who have called for Bondi to resign after failing to produce the list, which Trump officials had previously claimed to have in their possession. Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was critical of the administration's handling of the files in recent days, praised Trump's move. "This is massive, this is something that we've been talking about for quite some time, and really a power to the grassroots," he said. Epstein died in a New York prison cell in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death while incarcerated happened more than a decade after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, for which he was registered as a sex offender. Risky strategy for Trump as he escalates Epstein row with loyal supporters
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Trump orders release of grand jury transcripts from Epstein case
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case, subject to court approval. "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!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Shortly after Trump's statement, Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on Friday to unseal the grand jury transcripts. "President Trump – we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Bondi wrote.
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Trump orders release of grand jury transcripts from Epstein case
;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!' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump asks for release of grand jury documents in Epstein case
WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will ask a court to allow the release of grand jury testimony in the case of deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after some of his supporters reacted in fury to a report concluding there was no evidence to support long-running theories about his case. "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!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Shortly after Trump's statement, Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to ask the court on Friday to unseal the grand jury transcripts. "President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Bondi wrote. Some Trump supporters have raised questions about Epstein, the disgraced financier, after the Justice Department this month concluded that there was no evidence, opens new tab to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison. Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including "a lot of names" and "a lot of flight logs." Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Trump has pushed back, calling the matter a hoax. Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.
