Hi all, it’s been a busy Thursday. Let me get right into today’s top stories.
Donald Trump’s effort to weaponize the Epstein investigation against political opponents is unraveling in real time.
Today in Chappaqua, New York, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were scheduled to sit for depositions before the House Oversight Committee. As Hillary Clinton headed into the closed-door deposition, she released a pointed opening statement, making clear she knew nothing about Epstein and slamming the Republicans for not allowing her to testify in public.
The Republican theatrics began almost immediately. The deposition was paused after it was revealed that Lauren Boebert shared an unauthorized photo from the hearing with Benny Johnson, who then posted it on social media.
We are now learning that the hearing has resumed. Hillary Clinton is demanding that press be allowed into the room for the remainder of the deposition. House Oversight Chair James Comer is refusing, despite the fact that Boebert took photos during the deposition and leaked them to a MAGA propagandist. Despite Clinton’s call for transparency, Republicans are demanding secrecy as they selectively leak to right wing agitators.
The truth is that the central question surrounding the proceedings had little to do with the Clintons. It focused on why FBI 302 interview memos tied to a survivor who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault as a minor are “missing” from the Department of Justice’s released Epstein materials.
When pressed on whether a cover-up may be underway, Comer played dumb, saying, “Now we’re looking into the accusation by NPR. We don’t know the answer to that. We know what the administration says. We’re still looking to get a definitive answer on that.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member on the Oversight Committee, addressed the issue outside the deposition site, stating that “at this very moment, the Department of Justice continues to lead a White House cover-up.” He pointed to newly discovered files involving “serious accusations and allegations against not just Jeffrey Epstein, but also against President Trump, and about abuse that she suffered when she was a minor.” Garcia added that the missing materials extend beyond a single survivor’s account, noting that a significant portion of files tied to the investigation remain unreleased.
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Back to my report.
Rep. Suhas Subramaniam reinforced that the effort should center on facts rather than partisan theater. He emphasized that millions of Epstein-related records have yet to see the light of day and warned that withholding critical materials does not protect victims. It shields those who may have committed crimes.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the release of the Epstein Files continues to grow. Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum and former Norwegian foreign minister, has stepped down following an independent investigation into his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Newly surfaced materials show Brende communicated with Epstein multiple times despite previously suggesting otherwise.
Trump Commerce Secretary and Epstein Island visitor Howard Lutnick is also in hot water, per new reporting from POLITICO. Trump reportedly confronted Lutnick at Mar-a-Lago over the holidays over how much money his sons were making after their firm’s profits skyrocketed during Trump’s first year in office. Lutnick is also facing criticism for hyping deals and investments in the United States without a clear path to deliver. Despite all that, the Epstein Class continues to protect one of its own.
Trump officials continue to try to distract from Epstein with stunts abroad. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum once again promoted the strategic importance of the U.S. taking over Greenland, while other voices in Trump’s orbit escalated rhetoric about Cuba and broader military posture.
Speaking of Cuba, Cuba claims the U.S. boat that opened fire on Cuban troops yesterday was carrying Cuban-Americans attempting to infiltrate the island and carry out terrorism. Many questions remain about the confrontation.
And in other foreign policy news, intercepted phone calls and messages from senior Russians ridiculing Trump have reportedly been shared by the British with the United States. A senior security source said, “We have continually shown them intelligence that shows the Russians are lying. The Russians are privately mocking Trump over his naivety about Putin’s intentions. Putin doesn’t want to end the war.”
Trump is a laughing stock.
In Buffalo, another story underscores the terror caused by Trump’s regime. Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind Rohingya refugee from Burma who spoke no English, was picked up by U.S. immigration officials last week. After determining there was no basis to deport him, agents released him five miles from his home without notifying his family. He required a walking stick to navigate unfamiliar surroundings. He died attempting to make his way back.
The consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s tariffs continue to reverberate. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has formally requested that the Trump Administration refund $13.5 billion to New Yorkers. At least 1,800 companies across the country are now seeking relief as well.
Back at home, Trump continues to receive bad news. Trump’s State of the Union drew approximately 28 million viewers across major networks, among the lowest totals in modern history. Part of that decline in viewership is due to the MeidasTouch Network’s People’s State of the Union, which has surpassed 4 million viewers. Polling on the generic congressional ballot now shows Democrats leading by eight points. Democrats also hold a 14-point advantage in voter enthusiasm heading into the midterms, according to a new Washington Post/ABC/Ipsos poll.
The questions surrounding the Epstein files are not going away. We will never be distracted from this issue. And we will continue to hold Trump accountable on all matters. Thanks for reading, watching, liking, restacking, and subscribing! You make this reporting possible.
