Victim in Epstein case decries 'political warfare' in effort to release grand jury transcriptsNew Foto - Victim in Epstein case decries 'political warfare' in effort to release grand jury transcripts

Two victims of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have filed letters to the court condemning the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury testimony and cited the lack of respect they feel has been showed toward them byPresident Donald Trump and his administration. Both of the victims remained anonymous in their writings sent on Monday, with one calling the latest handling of the so-called Epstein Files "political warfare." "Dear United States, I wish you would have handled and would handle the whole 'Epstein Files' with more respect towards and for the victims. I am not some pawn in your political warfare. What you have done and continue to do is eating at me day after day as you help to perpetuate this story indefinitely," one of the victims wrote. Another victim argued that priority has only been on protecting "wealthy men." "(I) feel like the DOJ's and FBI's priority is protecting the "third-party", the wealthy men by focusing on scrubbing their names off the files of which the victims, "know who they are,'" one of the victims wrote. While neither letter outwardly requests federal Judge Richard Berman in New York to keep the transcripts under seal, both strongly urge him to take all necessary precautions in concealing victims' identities. One of the victims suggested that a third party review the release of the documents to ensure that no information related to the victims is revealed. The other victim told the judge that it is an "upmost priority" for any information regarding identify of the victims be redacted. Both emotional letters submitted to the judge showed clear frustration towards the administration's handling of the files. "I appreciate your time reading my short thoughts and feeling and my anxiety and frustration is NOT aimed at you, obviously. It is aimed at the very government here, the ones asking to release these transcripts, exhibits, etc., of which the victims are not privy to while they have concluded that there is nothing more to see on the files they hold. Yet no one has seen them, but them," one of the letters read. "I am beside myself." Victims in the case were asked to respond to thegovernment's request to releasegrand jury transcripts by August 5. The Epstein files have become a mounting problem for the Trump administration as the demand for them to be released has only increased over the past few months. Both the Justice Department and the FBI have struggled for months on how to release material related to the Epstein investigation. The documents require heavy redaction in order to protect victims and witnesses that were involved in the probe. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the release of the documents, giving out information in binders to right-wing media influencers at the White House. Those influencers criticized the information, saying that much of it was old news. After two months of promising to release more information, the administration turned quiet. CNN recently reported that in May, Bondi had briefed Trump on the files and that his name appeared several times. On July 7, the Justice Department released an unsigned memo about the files saying that it does not plan to release more information. The letter also said that there was no "client list." Trump has continued to experience backlash from members of Congress, his political base and the public on the lack of transparency. The Justice Department asked the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to unseal grand jury transcripts in the investigation on July 18. The department also asked a judge in the Southern District of Florida to release grand jury transcripts, but the request was swiftly denied. The judge overseeing the Justice Department's request for the unsealing of grand jury transcripts has asked the government additional questions to answer before Tuesday as to why he should grant their request. This story has been updated with additional details. CNN's Evan Perez, Kara Scannell and Aaron Blake contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

Victim in Epstein case decries ‘political warfare’ in effort to release grand jury transcripts

Victim in Epstein case decries 'political warfare' in effort to release grand jury transcripts Two victims of Jeffrey Epstein's ...
Attorney General Bondi orders prosecutors to start grand jury probe into Obama officials over Russia investigationNew Foto - Attorney General Bondi orders prosecutors to start grand jury probe into Obama officials over Russia investigation

Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into accusations that members of the Obama administration manufactured intelligence about Russia's 2016 election interference, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. A grand jury would be able to issue subpoenas as part of a criminal investigation into renewed allegations that Democratic officials tried to smear Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign by falsely alleging his campaign was colluding with the Russian government. It could also consider an indictment should the Justice Department decide to pursue a criminal case. The move follows a referral from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who declassified documents in July that she alleges undermine the Obama administration's conclusion that Russia tried to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. Gabbard requested that the Justice Department investigate former President Barack Obama and top officials in his administration for an alleged conspiracy. Soon after Gabbard's referral, Bondi announced that the DOJ was creating a"strike force"to assess the evidence released by Gabbard and "investigate potential next legal steps which might stem from DNI Gabbard's disclosures." The Justice Department declined to comment. CNN has reported that the allegations from Gabbardmisrepresent what the intelligence community concludedover Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 election. While Gabbard insisted the Russian goal in 2016 was to sow distrust in American democracy and not to help Trump, the unsealed documents don't undercut or alter the US government's core findings in 2017 that Russia launched a campaign of influence and hacking and sought to help Clinton lose. Fox Newsfirst reported Bondi's grand jury request. CNN's Holmes Lybrand contributed to this report. This story is breaking and will be updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

Attorney General Bondi orders prosecutors to start grand jury probe into Obama officials over Russia investigation

Attorney General Bondi orders prosecutors to start grand jury probe into Obama officials over Russia investigation Attorney General Pam Bond...
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott orders arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled over redistrictingNew Foto - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott orders arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled over redistricting

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbotthas ordered Texas law enforcement to arrestDemocratic lawmakers who fled the statetoblock a vote on redistrictingthat could give Republicans several more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. "Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans,"Abbott said in an Aug. 4 press releaseannouncing the move. "By fleeing the state, Texas House Democrats are holding hostage critical legislation to aid flood victims and advance property tax relief. There are consequences for dereliction of duty." It's unclear whether and how Texas law enforcement will be able to work with out-of-state law enforcement to execute the arrest order, which Abbott said is designed to ensure the missing Democrats comply with civil arrest warrantsissued by state Republican lawmakers in an 85-6 voteearlier in the day. Those warrants only apply within state lines. More than 50 state Democratic lawmakers fled Aug. 3 in the political power struggle. Many went to the Chicago area in Illinois, where Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker greeted them. Others went to Boston, Massachusetts and Albany, New York. At the urging ofPresident Donald Trump, Texas Republicans have proposed changing congressional districts to give their party an assist in next year's midterm elections. The revamped map could allow Republicans to flip as many as five Democratic congressional seats. The Democrats are already facing a $500 fine for each day they are out of the state. The penalty was created after state Democrats in 2021 made a similar move to protest new voting restrictions. However, supporters such as Pritzker, a billionaire, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a star Democratic fundraiser from Texas, have offered to help the fleeing Democrats. Abbott said that his arrest order, which called on the Texas Department Of Public Safety to take action, will remain in place until every missing Democratic member has been brought to the Texas Capitol. Contributing: Savannah Kuchar – USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Texas orders arrest of Democrats who fled to block redistricting

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott orders arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled over redistricting

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott orders arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled over redistricting Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbotthas ordered Te...
Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer adds to Trump's Epstein morassNew Foto - Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer adds to Trump's Epstein morass

The Trump administration made interviewing Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice,Ghislaine Maxwell, a key part of its efforts to climb out from beneath its Epstein files problems. Over a week later, we still don't know what transpired during that meeting. But the Maxwell situation has only grown to epitomize a series of very curious maneuvers that call into question precisely what everyone in the administration is thinking and suggest the controversy is going nowhere fast. Indeed, it's almost as if those involved aretryingto make this look bad. We learned Friday that Maxwell had beenmoved from a low-security federal prison in Floridato a minimum-security prison camp in Texas called Camp Bryan – a significant upgrade for an inmate serving a 20-year sentence. Neither the Justice Department, the Bureau of Prisons nor Maxwell's lawyer has addressed precisely why the transfer was made. We don't know who was involved. But it's conspicuous for a host of reasons. To wit: News of the transfer broke after Maxwell met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a political appointee and Trump's former defense lawyer, in a meeting that remains shrouded in secrecy. Maxwell doesn't appear to have been eligible for such a transfer, unless someone granted her a waiver.Bureau of Prisons policystates that anyone who had "sexual contact with a minor," as Maxwell did when she participated in the sexual abuse, "will be housed in at least a Low security level institution," without such a waiver. (Maxwell was sentenced in 2022 for carrying out a years-long scheme with Epstein to groom and sexually abuse underage girls.) Experts have said such a transfer is highly unusual. Prison consultant Holli Coulman on Fridaytold CNN's Phil Mattinglythat she had "never seen this in my life. Never seen it by women that I've either served time with, clients, never have seen this. This is unprecedented." Maxwell's upgrade comes as Trump has repeatedly seemed todangle a favor – specifically, a potential pardon– as she spoke with the Justice Department and entered into talks to testify to Congress. The White House told CNN last week that "no leniency is being given or discussed" for Maxwell, but then Trump againconspicuously noted that he had the power to pardon her. A lower-security prison could certainly be construed as a form of "leniency." Trump has a history of suggesting favors for those whose actions could impact him. He dangled pardons over witnesses in the Russia investigation in ways that special counsel Robert Mueller saidcould have impacted their decisions on cooperating with the government. And more recently, Trump's Justice Department seemed to tie the dismissal of New York Mayor Eric Adams's criminal charges tohim helping with Trump's immigration crackdown. The favorable prison transfer comes even as Maxwell's lawyer has openly sought concessions for her. There is plenty we don't know about all of this, in large part because the key players aren't talking. It's theoretically possible this is all just a major coincidence. But it certainly raises questions that the key officials involved would seem to have motivation to put to rest – and quickly. Maxwell's testimony could bear on Trump personally, given continuing revelations abouthis ties to Epsteinand his desire to put the entire Epstein files fiasco to rest. Now we learn she got a highly unusual perk. And it's merely the latest in a series of very questionable developments. The other concession the Trump administration made after failing to produce the Epstein documents that it had promised was moving to unseal grand jury testimony. But its own filing last week reinforcedthat information is likely to be quite limited, if it even sees the light of day. Trump has been very slow to acknowledge his own proximity to Epstein. Last week, after days of confusion, the president ultimately said he had been aware in real time that Epstein "stole" one of his Mar-a-Lago employees,a then-minor named Virginia Giuffrewho became one of Epstein's highest-profile accusers. Given Giuffre's age at the time and a paper trail that suggests Trump's awareness of Epstein's affinity for young women and girls, that raises valid questions aboutwhat Trump knew or might have suspected at the time. Family members of Giuffre's have raised the possibility that Trump knows more than he has let on, but the president has balked at expanding on his statements about why this episode made him decide Epstein was a "creep." Trump, who has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, claimed Thursday that "I don't know really why" Epstein was taking his employees. But he's repeatedly madefalse and misleading claims about hispastties to Epstein. Most recently, he denied that Attorney General Pam Bondi had told him his name was in the Epstein files, whichCNN later reportedshe had – back in May. What's more, the timeline suggests the administration's reversal on promising full disclosurecoincided with Trump being told he was in the files. And then there is the Maxwell situation. Even before the news of her prison transfer, the administrationtook very little care to make its handling of her appear proper. It sent Blanche,Trump's former personal lawyer, to meet with her. Blanche has called Maxwell's lawyer his "friend." Maxwell's lawyer has been solicitous of Trump. And, of course, Trump has repeatedly left open a pardon. Trump late last week said he didn't know what would be produced from the Blanche meeting, saying, "I don't know because I haven't spoken about it." But he again suggested it might be limited by a desire not to create suspicion of people who haven't been charged with crimes. The confusion around all of this only seems to be growing, in large part because of Trump's and the administration's own actions and lack of transparency. And perhaps nothing looms larger right now than the unanswered questions about the prison transfer. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer adds to Trump’s Epstein morass

Ghislaine Maxwell's prison transfer adds to Trump's Epstein morass The Trump administration made interviewing Jeffrey Epstein's ...
White House Claims It Has Achieved Net Negative MigrationNew Foto - White House Claims It Has Achieved Net Negative Migration

U.S. Marine Corps deployed at the southern border in San Diego, reinforce the US-Mexico border wall as pictured from Colonia Libertad in Tijuana, Baja Calif. state, Mexico on Feb. 5, 2025. Credit - Guillermo Arias—AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump'sWhite House has been celebrating reports that 2025 could be the first year in at least 50 years that the United States could have negative net migration. The Administrationpromoted a segment on CNNMonday that claimed Trump's "hawkish" immigration policies will lead to net negative migration, down from anet 2.8million-person increase in population in 2024. "The United States is on track to see negative net migration for the first time in at least five decades, according to CNN, as President Donald J. Trump fulfills his promise to end the migrant invasion and deport criminal illegal immigrants from our communities," the press release reads. The White House laterposted a graphicon X that appeared to claim it had already met that target. The graphic showed a border patrol agent and was emblazoned with the words: "NEGATIVE NET MIGRATION for the First Time in 50 Years" and "Promises made, promises kept." Read More:What the Data Reveals About Trump's Push to Arrest and Deport More Migrants It did not provide any evidence to back up that claim, and the CNN story originally shared by the White House did not make that claim. The CNN report was nonetheless celebrated online by Administration officials, including by Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who is often credited with shaping Trump's hardline immigration policies. "During the last period in which America was the undisputed global superpower — finically [sic], culturally, militarily — immigration was net negative. All population growth was from family formation," Millerwrote on XSunday afternoon. When asked by TIME if it had achieved negative net migration already, the White House initially responded by sharing a link to Miller's tweet. In a later statement to TIME, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said that "President Trump was elected on his promise to end illegal immigration, deport criminal illegal aliens, and put Americans First – that's exactly what he's doing." "For the third month in a row, there have been zero illegal aliens released into the country," she said. "And last month, Border Patrol averaged just 141 apprehensions per day, which is unheard of for the nearly 2,000-mile-long southern border. Since President Trump took office, all employment gains have gone to American workers. President Trump's policies are delivering for the Americans who elected him." Here's what you need to know. Negative net migration is the term to describe a scenario in which the number of people leaving a country is greater than the number immigrating. In such a situation, population growth is mostly dependent on those being born within the country. While he didn't specifically campaign for a second term on achieving negative net migration, Trump promised the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history. "I don't believe this is sustainable for a country, what's happening to us, with probably 15 million and maybe as many as 20 million by the time Biden's out. Twenty million people, many of them from jails, many of them from prisons, many of them from mental institutions," Trump told TIME in May 2024. TIME had fact-checkedthis claim,finding that the number of undocumented people in the United States was estimated to be closer to 11 million. During the first six months of Trump's second term, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recorded nearly 150,000 deportations — or an average of more than 800 per day. If those continue at the same pace, the agency should carry out more than 300,000 deportations by the end of the year, which would be the highest annual tally since 2014. AJuly 2025 reportfrom the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank, estimated that migration levels in 2025 would reach somewhere between negative 525,000 and negative 115,000, "reflecting a dramatic decrease in inflows and somewhat higher outflows." This is just one prediction, though. In a separate report, the Federal Reserve Bank in San Franciscoestimated on July 17that the 2025 net international migration (NIM) numbers would decrease significantly from 2024. They write that NIM levels for 2025 are currently on track to be around 1.0 million—over 1.5 million less than 2024 and 2.5 million less than in 2025—but this still would not substantiate a net negative. Still, Trump's aggressive immigration tactics at the border are, undoubtedly, causing a decrease in those entering the United States. The Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco highlights how the overall number of encounters at the border has drastically declined since 2024, and the Migration Policy Institute reports that the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at the U.S.-Mexico border has reached record lows, not seen since the 1960s,with border patrol claiming just over 6,000 apprehensionsin June. Despite all that, some experts are skeptical. Julia Gelatt, Associate Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, said it's "hard for [her] to imagine" there will be a negative net migration this year, despite Trump's policies. "Border arrivals are down a lot this year (building on declines that started last year), and all of the parole pathways that the Biden administration opened—for Ukrainians, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, and others—have now closed," she told TIME over email. "On the other side of the equation, well over a million people come legally to the United States each year as permanent and temporary immigrants. We haven't yet seen the kinds of big changes to legal immigration policies or practices that would drastically slow legal immigration, though it could happen," she added. However, she said she expects net migration to be "significantly lower this year than in the past couple of years." TheU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics datashows that foreign-born individuals contributed more than half of the total new workers to the labor force in the years 2022 through 2024. In fact, a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallasstudyin July 2024 found that in the aftermath of the pandemic, immigrant laborers helped boost job growth while keeping inflation down. Read More:What to Know About the Jobs Report That Led Trump to Fire the Labor Statistics Chief Amid Trade War Fallout Economists have warned that the sharp drop in immigrants coming into the U.S., and Trump's aggressive deportation policies, could have detrimental effects on the country's economy. The Economic Policy Institutewrote in Julythat Trump's deportation efforts will reduce jobs for immigrants and U.S.-born workers alike, as deportations will "[threaten] the ability of employers to generate revenue and pay for business expenses like rent, machinery, and even the labor of any remaining workers." A new study from Dallas' Federal Reserve Bank in 2025showed thatdeclining immigration is "weighing" on the country's gross domestic product (GDP). In their simulations on GDP growth, they found that "[r]educed immigration inflows at the border, not deportations, account for most of the negative effect on GDP growth." The Center for Budget and Policy Prioritiesalso shared a reportthat immigration benefits the Social Security Trust Fund, and that "plans to drastically cut immigration and increase deportations would significantly worsen Social Security's financial outlook." This happens as theSocial Security Administration is already feeling the weightof hefty cuts from the Trump Administration. Contact usatletters@time.com.

White House Claims It Has Achieved Net Negative Migration

White House Claims It Has Achieved Net Negative Migration U.S. Marine Corps deployed at the southern border in San Diego, reinforce the US-M...

 

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