Effort to release Epstein files finally advances after newly sworn-in Democrat becomes final signatory
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s highly anticipated discharge petition to release the Epstein files received its final signatory on Wednesday, allowing lawmakers to force a vote in the House.
Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona became the 218th signatory on the Epstein discharge petition just moments after being sworn into office on Wednesday. Grijalva joined the 213 Democrats who unanimously supported the discharge petition while just four Republicans — Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and Massie — signed on.
‘Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap.’
With 218 signatures, lawmakers will be able to force a House vote on releasing the Epstein files.
Just hours before Grijalva’s swearing in, the White House confirmed that members of President Donald Trump’s administration met with Boebert in the Situation Room to address the discharge petition.
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
This meeting included a phone call from Trump as well as a face-to-face with Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Despite the apparent pressure campaign, Boebert did not rescind her support for the discharge petition.
Despite the bipartisan uproar over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, Trump maintains that the scandal is a Democrat “hoax” to distract from their disastrous shutdown.
“The Democrats are trying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax again because they’ll do anything at all to deflect on how badly they’ve done on the Shutdown, and so many other subjects,” Trump said in a Truth Social Post. “Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap. The Democrats cost our Country $1.5 Trillion Dollars with their recent antics of viciously closing our Country, while at the same time putting many at risk — and they should pay a fair price.”
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Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
“There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else, and any Republicans involved should be focused only on opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!”
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Newsom’s former chief of staff arrested on political corruption charges — and the governor tries to blame Trump
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s presidential hopes hit another stumbling block after his former chief of staff was arrested for alleged political corruption Wednesday.
Dana Williamson, 53, was indicted by a federal grand jury for nearly two dozen counts, and she was arrested, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in California.
A statement from a spokesperson for Newsom suggested that President Donald Trump was abusing the legal process to punish his political opponents.
Prosecutors allege that Williamson illegally funneled approximately $225,000 from a dormant political campaign to various business entities for an associate’s personal use between Feb. 2022 and Sept. 2024.
Williamson allegedly “conspired with a business associate to create false, backdated contracts” after she was subpoenaed over Paycheck Protection Program loans to her business.
She also is accused of illegally reporting personal expenditures as business deductions on falsified tax forms. The more than $1 million in expenditures included “private jet travel, luxury hotel stays, home furnishings, and designer handbags,” according to the release.
A statement from a spokesperson for Newsom suggested that President Donald Trump was abusing the legal process to punish his political opponents.
“Ms. Williamson no longer serves in this administration. While we are still learning details of the allegations, the governor expects all public servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity,” read the statement. “At a time when the president is openly calling for his attorney general to investigate his political enemies, it is especially important to honor the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of one’s peers.”
However, the press release indicated that the investigation began under the Biden administration, undermining Newsom’s suggestion.
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“This is a crucial step in an ongoing political corruption investigation that began more than three years ago,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. “As it always has, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect the people of California from political corruption.”
If convicted, Williamson faces decades in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
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Trump ‘shuts off’ deadly fentanyl pipeline by securing ‘historic’ deal with China: Patel
FBI Director Kash Patel traveled to Beijing last week to finalize a deal with China to end the fentanyl production pipeline.
‘The Chinese government agreed on a plan to stop fentanyl precursors.’
Patel joined White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday in the briefing room to share the results of that visit.
Patel credited the accomplishment to Trump’s “historic engagement with [Chinese] President Xi,” referring to the leaders’ meeting in October.
Patel reported that the FBI has seized 1,900 kilograms of fentanyl — enough to kill 127 million — so far this year, noting that it was a 31% increase compared to the same time frame last year.
“Fentanyl precursors are what makes up fentanyl. While we, the inner agency, the Department of Justice, have been fighting hard to seize and stop drug traffickers, we must attack fentanyl precursors — the ingredients necessary to make this lethal drug,” Patel stated.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images
He noted that he is the first FBI director to travel to China in over a decade.
“The Chinese government agreed on a plan to stop fentanyl precursors,” Patel said.
“The People’s Republic of China has fully designated and listed all 13 precursors utilized to make fentanyl. Furthermore, they have agreed to control seven chemical subsidiaries that are also utilized to produce this lethal drug.”
“Effective immediately, essentially, President Trump has shut off the pipeline that creates fentanyl,” he continued.
“This historic achievement has saved tens of thousands of lives.”
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Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images
China’s Commerce Ministry announced early this week that it would adjust requirements for some precursor chemicals, requiring a license to export them to the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Most fentanyl that enters the U.S. is from Mexico, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The office reported in September that fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of overdose deaths in the country.
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Task force locates 101 missing children, arrests so many suspects the Memphis jail is running out of room: Report
A task force operation in Tennessee has led to 101 missing children cases being cleared, according to the U.S. Marshals, who also said more than 1,000 warrants had been cleared.
The Memphis Safe Task Force has been in operation for only several weeks, but the operation has led to more than 2,300 arrests and the seizure of over 389 firearms.
‘While investigative work is tedious, locating missing and endangered children is one of the things we are most proud of.’
The National Guard is a part of 31 state and federal agencies contributing to the Memphis Safe State Task Force.
“We are happy that we have been able to use our fugitive hunting skills to assist local and state authorities with finding these missing children,” said U.S. Marshals spokesperson Emily Williams. “What a testament to our partnerships to be able to work these cases together. While investigative work is tedious, locating missing and endangered children is one of the things we are most proud of.”
One case involved a 15-year-old who had been reported as a runaway on Sept. 1 and had allegedly indicated suicidal feelings. A tipster said that he had witnessed the boy living in a minivan with his father on his property in Hawaii. The property owner tried to kick them out of the location, but the man refused.
Officials said the father had a long criminal history that included domestic violence, abuse, drugs, battery, and burglary, both in California as well as Hawaii. On Nov. 6, the boy was recovered by officials and will be returned to Tennessee.
The dramatic increase in arrests has led to a shortage of space at the Shelby County Jail, according to Sheriff Floyd Bonner.
“When we were notified that the surge was going to occur, we started talking to the national marshals services, telling them that we weren’t prepared for this, but we couldn’t stop it, and we couldn’t delay it, they said it was going to happen,” said Bonner to WREG-TV. “We’ve been scrambling for a month now trying to get contracts signed and going back and forth with attorneys.”
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that three inmates had died separately at the jail in just over a week’s time.
Other organizations involved in the task force included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Health and Human Services, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency.
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Uwan maintains strength, moves over sea east of Taiwan
Tropical Depression Uwan maintains its strength while moving over the sea east of Taiwan, according to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA early Thursday morning.
Floods linger in Cagayan after Chico River overflowed days after Uwan
Days after Super Typhoon Uwan battered northern Luzon, floodwaters continue to submerge several towns in Cagayan, with the Chico River overflowing and leaving thousands of residents reeling.
Hundreds still isolated by floods in Ilagan after Uwan
Several areas in Ilagan City, Isabela remained flooded days after Super Typhoon Uwan battered Northern Luzon, leaving hundreds of families stranded in their homes.
70% of power in La Union restored 3 days after Uwan
Power supply in La Union is being restored steadily three days after Super Typhoon Uwan battered the province and left most areas without electricity.
Woman gets over 2 years in prison for threatening call to judge in Trump’s criminal case
A Texas woman who made violent threats in a voicemail left with the federal judge who oversaw the since-dismissed criminal election subversion case against President Donald Trump was sentenced on Wednesday to 27 months in prison.
House advances bill to end government shutdown with hours until final vote
The House of Representatives advanced a bill to end the government shutdown through a key test vote on Wednesday and will weigh the measure itself later this evening.
