All posts tagged "jeffrey epstein"

Republicans en masse skip Bondi's closed-door Epstein hearing

House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) was apparently the only Republican lawmaker attending the interview with former Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday, MS NOW reported.

Sources told MS NOW that the atmosphere in the room was tense as Bondi appeared frustrated over the questions during the closed-door, transcribed interview with lawmakers as they continued their investigation into late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) commented that Republicans had skipped the Bondi interview — and called them out.

"I want to point out there's not a single Republican in the room besides the chairman [Comer]," Stansbury said, adding, "For a supposed group of individuals who care deeply about justice for the survivors, not a single one could be bothered to travel across the country today."

"It's sort of a curious fact of today's closed door transcribed interview, because the thing that set this all in motion was the fact that the Oversight Committee back in March had voted to subpoena Pam Bondi when she was still attorney general," MS NOW Congressional reporter Mychael Schnell told anchor Chris Jansing.

"And the reason why it was successful was because there were five Republicans who crossed ranks and joined that effort make putting it over the finish line, which was a stunning, stunning move considering the fact that President Trump, on a number of occasions has tried to push back on the Epstein files and the investigation overall, whether or not you know why they're not here today, as you mentioned, James Comer is here," Schnell said. "We did hear from him earlier. It's worth noting that currently Congress is out of session. They're on recess. So members are back home in their districts. Of course, that doesn't take away from the fact that they could have come into town for such an important interview. So certainly an interesting fact here as we go through the motions of this transcribed interview. But certainly Comer said that he was going to be asking Pam Bondi all the questions that the survivors had raised, including about redactions, withholding and Ghislaine Maxwell's prison sentence."

Bondi's comments had prompted questions over whether the committee would subpoena Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who at the time was Bondi's deputy, and current FBI Director Kash Patel, Jansing said.

But that could be difficult to do, said MS NOW Senior Legal Reporter Lisa Rubin, and Republicans could have deliberately chosen not to show up.

"Certainly it would be hard for the committee today to vote on a subpoena like that because they don't have the votes," Rubin explained.

"Chairman Comer would have to be the one to initiate that vote, but also authorize the subpoena," Rubin said. "And I think that this today, the transcribed interview was conveniently scheduled in a way that many Republicans would not be there, meaning they gave the Democrats the interview that they were seeking after having subpoenaed Pam Bondi. But they set it up at a time where she would not be subject to hard questions from members of her own party."

There could be more questioning to come for both Blanche and Patel, Rubin added.

"In terms of Todd Blanche and Kash Patel, those are absolutely people to whom these questions should be directed," Rubin said. "And I have to say this may be inconvenient for some of the Democrats, but it was absolutely predictable and intelligible, legally, that Pam Bondi would say that she could not discuss her conversations with the president. That is something that is protected by executive privilege."

'He is already so radioactive': Blanche damaged by Bondi testimony

During coverage of the ongoing House Oversight Committee meeting interview with Pam Bondi, The New York Times' Peter Baker claimed there are probably good reasons for the fired attorney general to place all the blame on the man who now sits in her office over the botched release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

With MS NOW’s Ken Dilanian joking earlier, “Look, those of us in Washington may have heard the sound of a large bus driving over a large object about an hour ago. And that was Pam Bondi throwing her former deputy, Todd Blanche, now the acting attorney general, under that bus, proverbially.”

Baker was asked what he thinks is at play.

“She's demonstrating that she remains loyal to the president who fired her, pushed her out. But at the same time, not to the deputy that was foisted on her in the first place, who clearly, you know, she's willing to throw under the bus,” he told MS NOW host Ali Vitali.

He then added, “Now, that may be perfectly good politics in the sense that Todd Blanche is probably already so radioactive that there's no chance he could be confirmed by the Senate to the attorney general position in a permanent sense. That $1.8 billion fund for Trump's allies by itself probably makes him unconfirmable on top of many other things people might have concerns about. But, you know, she's not willing to, you know, break with the president. She is still in his orbit in that sense, which is fascinating.”

- YouTube youtu.be

Pam Bondi asked directly about Trump in Epstein interview – and DOJ attorney ‘intervened’

The Justice Department’s (DOJ) botched release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein was front and center Friday during ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi’s interview with the House Oversight Committee, during which, a DOJ attorney "intervened" to stop Bondi from answering a direct question about President Donald Trump, one Democratic lawmaker claimed.

Bondi agreed to appear for a closed-door interview with members of the Oversight Committee over the DOJ’s handling of Epstein-related files – around half of which remain unpublished, which critics have claimed to be unlawful. However, she previously defied a congressional subpoena to testify under oath. As such, she faces no legal risk for providing false statements.

Even so, Trump’s DOJ apparently felt compelled to stop her from answering certain questions about Trump, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), a member of the Oversight Committee, claimed just outside the interview room.

“She has been asked multiple times about the Trump administration, about her conversations with the president,” Stansbury said.

“When asked specifically about a conversation with Donald Trump, one of the DOJ attorneys intervened and said she did not have to answer the question because it was a voluntary interview, and said, quote, ‘we don’t even have to assert privilege,’ and, quote, ‘we refuse to provide answers.’”

Other Democratic members of the Oversight Committee similarly condemned Bondi’s performance. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) called the interview a “ridiculous charade,” and Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) referred to it as “disgusting.”

Stansbury also noted that other than Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the Oversight Committee chair, no other Republicans participated in the closed-door interview, sparking even more fury from the New Mexico Democrat.

“That means that the DOJ is intervening on behalf of Pam Bondi to stop her from answering questions about what happened in the cover-up in this case, and her conversations with Donald Trump,” Stansbury said.

“This is a cover-up! This will be remembered as the largest cover-up likely in American history, and it is clear that this interview is a smokescreen to try to show the American people that they are complying while they are not,” Stansbury added.

The Epstein cover-up continues. This is what’s happening in the room ⬇️ #ReleaseTheFiles pic.twitter.com/N7brgr7g5R
— Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) May 29, 2026

James Comer sweats as he's cornered by Epstein survivors before Pam Bondi grilling

Three Epstein survivors confronted Rep. James Comer (R-KY) in a moment that made the GOP lawmaker visibly uncomfortable, just minutes before a closed-door interview with former Attorney General Pam Bondi was set to question her on Friday about deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

As Comer was taking questions from the press, he was forced to respond to the victims who were on Capitol Hill before the House Oversight Committee meeting. The closed-door interview was not videotaped but was expected to focus on the "sloppy rollout of the Epstein files," MS NOW anchor Ali Vitali reported.

"In a remarkable moment just a short time ago, a group of Epstein survivors peppered oversight committee Chair James Comer with their own questions ahead of Bondi's session," Vitali said.

"These people cannot be brought in under transcribed interviews. Can you ensure that they would please be brought in under oath?" Sharlene Rochard, an Epstein survivor, asked Comer.

The chairman of the committee seemed surprised by the line of questioning.

"If you lie to Congress, it's a felony," Comer said. "So it's, you know, we're bringing them in. We're bringing people in that have never been brought in before."

"Survivors' names over and over and over were exposed," Liz Stein, Epstein survivor, told Comer. "Yet we see time and time again, perpetrators names have been redacted when they shouldn't have been. Are we going to get some answers?"

Comer responded.

"I hope so, those are the questions we're going to ask," he said. "And you know, we're doing this. We want justice for the survivors."

Vitali commented on the moment.

"Stunning to see them confront Comer themselves," Vitali added.

Judge embarrasses Trump DOJ lawyer in court with blistering comeback: report

A federal judge delivered an embarrassing response to a Department of Justice lawyer who was defending Trump from a lawsuit, according to a new report by Politico.

The lawsuit stems from the firing of Maurene Comey, the daughter of the former FBI Director, who's been targeted by two Trump DOJ indictments. Maurene Comey was a DOJ prosecutor who had a key role in the criminal cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

She was fired last year via a letter that only cited the presidential powers outlined in Article II of the Constitution, according to previous reporting by Politico.

During a pretrial hearing, DOJ lawyer Karen Lesperance defended Comey's firing as legitimate "even if there were political motivations," Politico reported.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman asked what the limits of the president's Article II power would be in that case, and asked if the president can fire people in order to have an "all-white executive branch? or all-black?" according to Politico.

"Lesperance stammered in response," Politico reported. She then told the judge, "I can't answer on behalf of the government."

According to Politico, Furman shot back, "You're here representing the government."

Comey's lawyer, Ellen Blain, meanwhile, described Lesperance as pushing for "a novel and breathtaking theory" about the scope of presidential powers.

Ex-Epstein aide names three men — including ex-mayor and celebrity stylist — as abusers

Sarah Kellen, the former personal assistant to Jeffrey Epstein who told Congress Thursday she was repeatedly raped and abused by the convicted sex trafficker, has named three of his alleged accomplices — and the identities have sent shockwaves through political and celebrity circles.

According to Tara Palmeri's The Red Letter, Kellen identified celebrity hairstylist Frederic Fekkai, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, and the late fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier during her closed-door, transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee.

The Miami Herald's Julie K. Brown — the journalist whose reporting helped bring down Epstein — independently confirmed that Kellen accused Levine of sexually assaulting her.

Levine, a Democrat who ran for Florida governor in 2018, has previously denied having any meaningful relationship with Epstein. But DOJ files tell a different story — emails show him referring to the disgraced financier as "a great guy" and signing off as "Your friend, Philip" even after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Ghislaine Maxwell, in a DOJ interview, called Levine her "very good friend." Levine has not responded to the new allegations.

Fekkai's ex-wife, Elizabeth, pushed back on the claims. "There's no f------ way," she told Palmeri. "He's a lot of things, but he's not abusive." Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg, however, testified in 2024 that she overheard Epstein ask Fekkai if he could "find some girls for him." Fekkai has not commented directly.

Demarchelier, who died in 2022, was a fixture on Epstein's Lolita Express flight logs and was accused by multiple models and former assistants of pervasive sexual harassment during his lifetime.

The disclosure marks a significant milestone in a survivor-led push that has been building for months.

Last September, a group of Epstein survivors gathered on Capitol Hill and announced they were compiling their own list of abusers after growing frustrated with the government's failure to act.

"We know the names. Many of us were abused by them," one survivor said at the time. "Now together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names who were regularly in the Epstein world."

Kellen's testimony appears to be on the list arriving on Capitol Hill.

Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) confirmed Thursday that the three names Kellen provided were ones investigators "hadn't heard before," calling her testimony "by far the most substantive and productive interview" the committee has conducted. He promised to release the transcript as quickly as possible.

The committee has not officially released the three names. No charges have been filed against any of the men named.

Melania introduced Trump to his new 'security blanket': biographer

President Donald Trump's "latest questionable friend" — who even accompanied him to China last week — was introduced to him by his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, according to the president's biographer.

Author Michael Wolff told The Daily Beast that Melania's close aide, Marc Beckman, connected her to "disgraced filmmaker Brett Ratner," who also had ties to late financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ratner has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women and directed Melania's self-titled documentary.

“The guy who has become Melania’s sort of main adviser, chief of staff, marketing guru, COO of Melania Enterprises ... apparently knew Brett Ratner, and that was the connection,” Wolff told his co-host Joanna Coles, The Daily Beast's Chief Creative and Content Officer, during an episode of their podcast "Inside Trump's Head."

Ratner went on to direct the Melania documentary that Beckman, who has worked with her as an advisor for 20 years, produced, Wolff said.

Since then, he's become a member of Trump's inner-circle and last week traveled to China with the president. Coles told Wolff, “I got a note from a producer friend yesterday who’s been at the Cannes Film Festival saying that she ... saw Brett Ratner showing everybody his photographs of his new best friend Donald Trump in China."

Wolff said Trump was treating Ratner as a "security blanket" as other members of his entourage fall out of favor.

Ratner was revealed to be connected to Epstein and in the Department of Justice's Epstein file release in December, one photo showed Ratner sitting next to Epstein and holding an unknown woman. Another image showed Ratner embracing a shirtless Jean-Luc Brunel, a French model scout and owner of a modeling agency with significant financial backing from Epstein. Brunel died by apparent suicide in 2022 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, much like Epstein allegedly had in 2019.

"Can you imagine any other first lady’s office approving Brett Ratner?" Coles said. "I mean, I’m not saying that Steven Spielberg would have done it, but there are so many directors that could have done this."

Emboldened Trump fires a warning shot at Lauren Boebert

President Donald Trump hinted on Wednesday that a Republican lawmaker who crossed him and sided with the president's foe Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) could be next on his revenge list.

Trump revived his threats against Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), "an 'America First' firebrand who broke with the president by pushing to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and campaigning with Massie last weekend," according to a report from Politico's Playbook.

The president told reporters that he would consider a challenger to Boebert's primary election on June 30, despite the fact that "it’s a little late in the race," and that he would "give a look if somebody raises their hand to run against her," Politico reported.

After Massie's defeat on Tuesday night in the most expensive House primary in history, Boebert wrote "Trump is my President!" in a post on X.

Massie had claimed earlier this month that Trump had retaliated against Boebert after she didn't follow his demands to remove her name from the discharge petition to release government documents connected to Epstein, taking her to the Situation Room to give her the ultimatum, which she ultimately defied.

🚨 REPORTER: Have you met anyone about replacing Lauren Boebert?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: If somebody comes along, I'd look. It's a little late in the race, but if somebody comes along, I'd look. pic.twitter.com/5w3rsOjTXE
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 20, 2026

Epstein's mysterious 'main girlfriend' facing new probe despite immunity deal: report

A woman who was Jeffrey Epstein's "main girlfriend" for about seven years and has remained silent due to a 2008 plea deal could have to face lawmakers in an investigation, according to a report from The BBC this week.

Nadia Marcinko, who was an assistant pilot for the late financier and convicted child sex offender's private plane and visited him at least 67 times in prison, was among four women previously named as Epstein's "potential co-conspirators," The BBC reported. She was his "most significant partner after Ghislaine Maxwell" and was granted immunity from prosecution — but that could change.

Two of the women, Sarah Kellen and Lesley Groff, who have been named as Epstein assistants, will respond to questions from lawmakers investigating Epstein's abuse. And despite their plea deal, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) now wants all four to testify before the House Oversight Committee, including former Epstein assistant Adriana Ross and Marcinko.

Luna reportedly saw the unredacted files in February and reacted to the new information.

"All of these women engaged in the trafficking of minors as adults. They were working and complicit with Jeffrey Epstein's operation," Luna said.

Marcinko has remained largely out of the public eye.

"Marcinko has never been accused of, or charged with, any crime," according to The BBC. "Her lawyers say she is one of Epstein's victims. But girls in Palm Beach, Florida, whose testimony about their abuse when they were under age led to Epstein's conviction in 2008, told police that Marcinko participated in that abuse."

The BBC described its investigation of Marcinko and Epstein, including its review of email correspondence in the Epstein files "to try and build a detailed picture of her role in the disgraced financier's life."

"The emails reveal Epstein and Marcinko wanted to start a family together, we have discovered," the outlet reported. "The BBC has also found evidence suggesting that over many years, he asked her to recruit other women to help satisfy his sexual desires and she complied."

"But the emails also expose deeply coercive tendencies on the part of Epstein," according to The BBC. "Marcinko later told investigators that he was physically violent, choking her, and throwing her down a flight of stairs. We have had access to her account to investigators via a document that was released - heavily redacted - by the US Department of Justice in January. Marcinko's name is not visible, but the five pages of testimony match in every detail what we know about her from other sources."

Epstein's emails with Marcinko show the dynamic between the two — and the level of control Epstein tried to assert over her, The BBC reported.

"I want you to learn how to cook eggs. scrambled poached over easy... I want you to learn how to run a house.. I want no arguments during the monday to friday, week… I want you to read one of the hundred great books every month… I want beautiful things only in the house. you cannot put anything in, without letting me see it first. J"

Marcinko told investigators after Epstein's death that he tried to control "every aspect of her life, including her weight and clothing. She said he had forced her to have multiple plastic surgeries and physically abused her."

"We have not found any direct mention of those incidents in their email exchanges, but that does not mean they do not exist somewhere in the files. In one email we found, she accuses him of 'abusive partner behaviour,'" The BBC reported.

"And there is repeated reference to Epstein's expectation that Marcinko will scout for other women or girls for him," according to The BBC.

Senator hammers Blanche over exposed Epstein victim names — and doesn't let him respond

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) called out Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during a heated hearing on Tuesday — forcing him to address Jeffrey Epstein survivors whose identities were revealed.

Blanche was testifying before the Senate Appropriations committee on Capitol Hill when Murray pushed him to apologize to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and the Department of Justice's release of unredacted victim names in the Epstein files. The two got in a fiery back-and-forth over her questions.

"That is so not the question I'm asking," Murray said, telling Blanche he needed to answer her questions.

Blanche said he was trying to answer the questions in order when she cut him off again.

"The question I want you to answer is, will you apologize to the victims whose names, sensitive personal information and even nude photos were not redacted by your department? Will you apologize?" Murray asked.

"Of course," Blanche said. "We never want to release a victim's name."

Murray interjected again and Blanche appeared frustrated.

"Can I answer the question, please?" Blanche said.

"I'm asking if you'll apologize," Murray said again.

"And I just said yes, but I wanted to — I would like an explanation to be given to that," Blanche said.

Murray also pressed him to answer her questions about the Justice Department's controversial anti-weaponization fund, The New York Times reported. Blanche had said the compensation plan for Americans who claim they have been victims of political prosecutions was "not a slush fund."

"This is corruption that has never been more blatant or more widespread,” Murray said.

"What is happening is you write the check, Trump and his cronies cash it. American taxpayers who are already being whacked with high prices are going to foot the bill. That is what we are seeing today and that is what many of us are really, really angry about," Murray added.