Latest news with #ex-FBI
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Outline of naked woman...': WSJ report alleges Trump sent an unusual birthday letter to Epstein in 2003; US president threatens to sue, says 'not his words'
A leather-bound birthday album created for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003 has resurfaced in public discussion, drawing fresh attention after The Wall Street Journal reported it includes a letter bearing what appears to be Donald Trump's signature. The gift was reportedly organised by Ghislaine Maxwell and featured messages from several of Epstein's prominent associates. The MAGA chief has threatened to sue WSJ over the alleged 2003 letter, calling it 'fake'. The birthday album and its contents are now under renewed scrutiny following recent US Justice Department investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. Naked sketch and a typewritten note According to The Wall Street Journal, the page attributed to Trump features several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, drawn in thick black marker. The Journal report says: 'A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.' The note is allegedly styled as an imaginary third-person conversation between Trump and Epstein. It ends with the line: 'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.' The origins of the letter remain unclear, and it is not known how the version bearing Trump's signature was produced, according to WSJ. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo The document was reportedly stored alongside birthday messages from other Epstein acquaintances. Trump denies involvement, threatens lawsuit In an interview with WSJ on Tuesday, Trump denied writing the letter or drawing the figure. 'This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story,' he said. 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words.' He also warned the paper against publishing the article. 'I'm gonna sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else,' he reportedly said. 'Complete and utter BS': JD Vance Following the publication of the article, US vice president JD Vance slammed the piece in a post on X, writing: 'Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bulls—.' He added, 'The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?' Conspiracy allegations Speaking to reporters, Trump suggested that parts of the Epstein files may have been fabricated by Democrats, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and ex-FBI Director James Comey. 'I can imagine what they put into files,' Trump said, later referring to the Epstein revelations as part of 'the Jeffrey Epstein hoax' and calling for the FBI to investigate what he described as a criminal conspiracy against him. The Journal's article was published shortly after the dismissal of Maurene Comey from the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan. Comey, daughter of former FBI director James Comey, had previously helped lead the prosecutions of Epstein and Maxwell. Trump has long denied close ties to Epstein, stating that he cut off their friendship before Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Epstein died in a New York federal jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of helping procure underage girls for Epstein.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Popular podcaster criticizes JD Vance over past Epstein comments: 'What changed?'
A popular podcast host and comedian who interviewed Donald Trump on the 2024 presidential campaign and attended his inauguration is criticizing Vice President JD Vance over the Jeffrey Epstein case. In a social media post July 16, Theo Von, whose podcast and social media channels have millions of subscribers, recirculated a clip of a former interview with Vance in which the then-candidate appeared to agree to release alleged files about the criminal investigation into Epstein. Von's comments join a growing chorus of online MAGA figures pushing back against the Trump administration after a July 7 announcement claiming the FBI and Department of Justice investigation found no evidence of a supposed client list, thought to contain names of individuals who were associated with Epstein's alleged sex trafficking. The financier and convicted sex offender died while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking in 2019. Maurene Comey fired: Daughter of ex-FBI director and prosecutor against Jeffrey Epstein Von reshared the 7-second video clip of his October 2024 interview with Vance in which the then-senator said "seriously, we need to release the Epstein list, that is an important thing," after another user, self-described as a progressive activist, posted it a day prior. The user's original post included the text: "A video is going viral showing JD Vance calling for the full Epstein list to be released − on Theo Von's podcast. Hey JD, what changed?" Von republished the post on his own page, adding: 'Yeah, what changed?' Von's podcast, "This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von," is the fourth most popular podcast on Spotify, as of mid-July, and is among the more popular conservative-leaning podcasting shows. It is often lumped in with Joe Rogan's within the so-called 'manosphere,' of media channels catering to predominantly male audiences. Von's show often features interviews with celebrities, political figures and influencers, including a nearly hour-long sit-down with Trump a few months before the November 2024 presidential election. The alleged Epstein "client list" and surrounding controversies have created division within the Republican party and among some of MAGA's most vocal online personalities. Trump has long suggested he would be open to releasing the so-called list of Epstein clients, and Vance had also been vocal in making similar statements during the 2024 campaign. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in March she had a "truckload" of Epstein files to review and potentially release, further stoking expectations and conspiracies, especially among Trump's base. Yet furor erupted on July 7 when Bondi's Justice Department announced there was no "client list" and no further disclosure was needed. More about the Epstein 'list': Jeffrey Epstein is sowing division among MAGA. What to know about the late sex offender While Trump has since directed Bondi to release "whatever she thinks is credible," he has attempted to distance himself from the uproar, claiming it to be a "Democratic hoax." Yet long-time Trump loyalists, including daughter-in-law Lara Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, have called for more transparency. Democrats have also pushed for legislative action to release some of the documents. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a hardline MAGA supporter, weighed in on X on July 15, writing: "We deserve the truth about the Epstein files. I'm ready for a Special Counsel to handle this." Charlie Kirk, a key MAGA influencer who had spoke often about his doubts over the Epstein probe, abruptly reversed course on his vocal criticism this week, saying in his podcast: "I'm done talking about Epstein for the time being. I'm gonna trust my friends in the administration ." Contributing: Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY; Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Sun
World-first IVF trial reduces risk of babies inheriting diseases
Justice Department fires Maurene Comey, prosecutor on Epstein case and daughter of ex-FBI director Stampede bartender vows 'never' to do it again, citing abusive crowds and marathon shifts Nude photo leak meant to be 'distraction' from political goals, McGregor says MANDEL: Mentally ill man with history of stabbing strangers convicted of murder World-first IVF trial reduces risk of babies inheriting diseases Photo by PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP/File Article content Paris (AFP) — Eight healthy babies have been born in the UK using a new IVF technique that successfully reduced their risk of inheriting genetic diseases from their mothers, the results of a world-first trial said Wednesday. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content The findings were hailed as a breakthrough which raises hopes that women with mutations in their mitochondrial DNA could one day have children without passing debilitating or deadly diseases on to the children. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or World-first IVF trial reduces risk of babies inheriting diseases Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content One out of every 5,000 births is affected by mitochondrial diseases, which cannot be treated, and include symptoms such as impaired vision, diabetes and muscle wasting. In 2015, Britain became the first country to approve an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) technique that uses a small amount of healthy mitochondrial DNA from the egg of a donor — along with the mother's egg and father's sperm. Some have called the result of this process 'three-parent babies', though researchers have pushed back at this term because only roughly 0.1 percent of the newborn's DNA comes from the donor. Your Midday Sun Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The results of the much-awaited UK trial were published in several papers in the New England Journal of Medicine. 'Important reproductive option' Out of 22 women to undergo the treatment at the Newcastle Fertility Centre in northeast England, eight babies were born. The four boys and four girls now range from under six months to over two years old. The amount of mutated mitochondrial DNA — which causes disease — was reduced by 95-100 percent in six of the babies, according to the research. For the other two newborns, the amount fell by 77-88 percent, which is below the range that causes disease. This indicates the technique was 'effective in reducing transmission' of diseases between mother and child, one of the studies said. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The eight children are currently healthy, though one had a disturbance of their heart's rhythm which was successfully treated, the researchers said. Their health will be followed up over the coming years to see if problems arise. Nils-Goran Larsson, a Swedish reproductive expert not involved in the research, hailed the 'breakthrough'. The new technique offers a 'very important reproductive option' for families affected by 'devastating' mitochondrial diseases, he added. Ethical review Mitochondrial donation remains controversial and has not been approved in many countries, including the United States and France. Religious leaders have opposed the procedure because it involves the destruction of human embryos. Other opponents have expressed fears it could pave the way for genetically engineered 'designer babies'. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content An ethical review carried out by the UK's independent Nuffield Council on Bioethics was 'instrumental' in conducting the new research, the council's director Danielle Hamm said Wednesday. Peter Thompson, head of the UK's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority which approved the procedure, said only people with a 'very high risk' of passing on a mitochondrial disease would be eligible for the treatment. Ethical concerns have also been raised over the use of mitochondrial donation for infertility in Greece and Ukraine. French mitochondrial disease specialist Julie Stefann told AFP that 'it is a question of the risk-benefit ratio: for a mitochondrial disease, the benefit is obvious'. 'In the context of infertility, it has not been proven,' she added. Oxford University reproductive genetics expert Dagan Wells observed that 'some scientists will be a little disappointed that so much time and effort has, so far, only led to the birth of eight children'. Among the children being closely monitored are three that showed some signs of what is known as 'reversal', which is still little understood. It is 'a phenomenon where the therapy initially succeeds in producing an embryo with very few defective mitochondria, but by the time the child is born the proportion of abnormal mitochondria in its cells has significantly increased,' he explained. Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
AI-powered 'nudify' apps fuel deadly wave of digital blackmail
Justice Department fires Maurene Comey, prosecutor on Epstein case and daughter of ex-FBI director Stampede bartender vows 'never' to do it again, citing abusive crowds and marathon shifts Nude photo leak meant to be 'distraction' from political goals, McGregor says MANDEL: Mentally ill man with history of stabbing strangers convicted of murder AI-powered 'nudify' apps fuel deadly wave of digital blackmail Photo by Stefani REYNOLDS / AFP Article content Washington (AFP) — After a Kentucky teenager died by suicide this year, his parents discovered he had received threatening texts demanding $3,000 to suppress an AI-generated nude image of him. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content The tragedy underscores how so-called sextortion scams targeting children are growing around the world, particularly with the rapid proliferation of 'nudify' apps — AI tools that digitally strip off clothing or generate sexualized imagery. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or AI-powered 'nudify' apps fuel deadly wave of digital blackmail Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content Elijah Heacock, 16, was just one of thousands of American minors targeted by such digital blackmail, which has spurred calls for more action from tech platforms and regulators. His parents told US media that the text messages ordered him to pay up or an apparently AI-generated nude photo would be sent to his family and friends. 'The people that are after our children are well organized,' John Burnett, the boy's father, said in a CBS News interview. 'They are well financed, and they are relentless. They don't need the photos to be real, they can generate whatever they want, and then they use it to blackmail the child.' Your Midday Sun Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content US investigators were looking into the case, which comes as nudify apps — which rose to prominence targeting celebrities — are being increasingly weaponized against children. The FBI has reported a 'horrific increase' in sextortion cases targeting US minors, with victims typically males between the ages of 14 and 17. The threat has led to an 'alarming number of suicides,' the agency warned. Instruments of abuse In a recent survey, Thorn, a non-profit focused on preventing online child exploitation, found that six percent of American teens have been a direct victim of deepfake nudes. 'Reports of fakes and deepfakes — many of which are generated using these 'nudifying' services — seem to be closely linked with reports of financial sextortion, or blackmail with sexually explicit images,' the British watchdog Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said in a report last year. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content 'Perpetrators no longer need to source intimate images from children because images that are convincing enough to be harmful — maybe even as harmful as real images in some cases — can be produced using generative AI.' The IWF identified one 'pedophile guide' developed by predators that explicitly encouraged perpetrators to use nudifying tools to generate material to blackmail children. The author of the guide claimed to have successfully blackmailed some 13-year-old girls. The tools are a lucrative business. A new analysis of 85 websites selling nudify services found they may be collectively worth up to $36 million a year. The analysis from Indicator, a US publication investigating digital deception, estimates that 18 of the sites made between $2.6 million and $18.4 million over the six months to May. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Most of the sites rely on tech infrastructure from Google, Amazon, and Cloudflare to operate, and remain profitable despite crackdowns by platforms and regulators, Indicator said. 'Whack-a-mole' The proliferation of AI tools has led to new forms of abuse impacting children, including pornography scandals at universities and schools worldwide, where teenagers created sexualized images of their own classmates. A recent Save the Children survey found that one in five young people in Spain have been victims of deepfake nudes, with those images shared online without their consent. Earlier this year, Spanish prosecutors said they were investigating three minors in the town of Puertollano for allegedly targeting their classmates and teachers with AI-generated pornographic content and distributing it in their school. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content In the United Kingdom, the government this year made creating sexually explicit deepfakes a criminal offence, with perpetrators facing up to two years in jail. And in May, US President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan 'Take It Down Act,' which criminalizes the non-consensual publication of intimate images, while also mandating their removal from online platforms. Meta also recently announced it was filing a lawsuit against a Hong Kong company behind a nudify app called Crush AI, which it said repeatedly circumvented the tech giant's rules to post ads on its platforms. But despite such measures, researchers say AI nudifying sites remain resilient. 'To date, the fight against AI nudifiers has been a game of whack-a-mole,' Indicator said, calling the apps and sites 'persistent and malicious adversaries.' Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
A fire at a shopping center in eastern Iraq kills more than 60 people
Justice Department fires Maurene Comey, prosecutor on Epstein case and daughter of ex-FBI director Stampede bartender vows 'never' to do it again, citing abusive crowds and marathon shifts Nude photo leak meant to be 'distraction' from political goals, McGregor says MANDEL: Mentally ill man with history of stabbing strangers convicted of murder A fire at a shopping center in eastern Iraq kills more than 60 people Article content BAGHDAD (AP) — A fire engulfed a newly opened shopping center in eastern Iraq, killing more than 60 people, including children, Iraqi officials said Thursday. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content Civil defence teams rescued more than 45 people who became trapped when the fire broke out late Wednesday in the city of Kut, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Others are still missing, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency. Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or A fire at a shopping center in eastern Iraq kills more than 60 people Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content Photographs and videos on local media showed the Corniche Hypermarket Mall, a five-story shopping center that had opened only a week earlier, fully engulfed in flames. Poor building standards have often contributed to tragic fires in Iraq. In July 2021, a blaze at a hospital in the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah that killed between 60 to 92 people was determined to have been fueled by highly flammable, low-cost type of 'sandwich panel' cladding that is illegal in Iraq. In 2023, more than 100 people died in a fire at a wedding hall in the predominantly Christian area of Hamdaniya in Nineveh province after the ceiling panels above a pyrotechnic machine burst into flames.. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Iraq's Ministry of Interior said in a statement that 61 people died in the shopping center fire, most of them from suffocation. Among the dead were 14 charred bodies that remain unidentified, it said. Provincial Gov. Mohammed al-Mayyeh in a statement declared three days of mourning. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation but that legal cases were filed against the building owner and shopping center owner. He did not specify what the charges were. 'We assure the families of the innocent victims that we will not be lenient with those who were directly or indirectly responsible for this incident,' al-Mayyeh said. The results of the preliminary investigation will be released within 48 hours, he said. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that he had directed the interior minister to go to the site of the fire to investigate and take measures to prevent a recurrence. Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
