In Cell Where Jeffrey Epstein Died, a Scene of Disarray That Never Underwent Thorough Inspection, Experts Said

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By CBS News. The federal investigation into the death of convicted sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was marred by significant lapses, experts told CBS News, including the failure by investigators to interview potential witnesses, properly preserve certain evidence and run basic forensic tests.

Nearly two years passed before investigators interviewed the two key corrections officers on duty the night Epstein died in his cell in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown New York City, in what was later ruled a suicide, according to court documents. One of those officers was the only person to attest to seeing Epstein hanging by a bedsheet from his bunk.

And details pulled from 90 photos of the cell and other evidence collected in the hours after Epstein’s death — but before FBI agents arrived to process the scene — appear to show a succession of basic oversights, ranging from an absence of evidence markers to items being moved, experts told CBS News.

“The FBI literally has all of the best tools. I mean, spared no expense. They have every tool you can imagine. And they used none of it as far as we can tell,” forensic analyst Nick Barreiro said after reviewing the photos, many of which have never been published. “How are there not way more people pointing out the absurdity of this?”

The images were previously obtained by 60 Minutes. After the recent release of surveillance video from the night Epstein died, which appeared to show details that contradicted official reports, CBS News reviewed them and other documents with several forensic experts. (Read more from “In Cell Where Jeffrey Epstein Died, a Scene of Disarray That Never Underwent Thorough Inspection, Experts Said” HERE)

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Epstein bank records sought by top House Democrat from Jamie Dimon, other CEOs

By CNBC. A top House Democrat asked four major bank CEOs to share a slew of financial records related to Jeffrey Epstein, pushing forward an investigation into the notorious sex predator, after the lawmaker’s effort to subpoena the banks for the documents was blocked by Republicans.

House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., in letters to the CEOs obtained by CNBC, asked how Epstein and his co-conspirators could have conducted a reported $1.5 billion in suspicious transactions “for years without ever being caught.” . . .

The letters came as the Trump administration continues to face pressure — from Democrats and from some of President Donald Trump’s Republican supporters — over its handling of matters related to Epstein.

The wealthy financier and sex offender, who was once a friend of Trump’s, died by suicide while in jail facing federal child sex trafficking charges in 2019.

In his letters, Raskin bluntly asked each CEO if their bank will “help reveal the truth” about Epstein and his co-conspirators, or if they would “choose to be part of the cover-up for this massive, international sex trafficking ring that victimized more than 1,000 women and girls?” (Read more from “Epstein bank records sought by top House Democrat from Jamie Dimon, other CEOs” HERE)

MTG Blames GOP Leadership for Shutdown

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U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blamed Republican congressional leadership for the ongoing government shutdown during an interview Thursday on CNN, calling on her party to fully fund the government. . .

“It shouldn’t be something we dangle — the American people or military pay — we shouldn’t be dangling it in front of them,” Greene said.

The Georgia congresswoman said she opposes a short-term funding bill and instead wants Congress to pass a full appropriations package, which she called its constitutional duty.

“I am a Republican and I support the President, so I voted for the continuing resolution,” Greene said. “I want to pass our appropriates. That’s our constitutional duty.” . . .

“We control the House. We control the Senate. We control the White House. I’ve been vocal saying you can use the ‘nuclear option’ in the Senate,” Greene said. “This doesn’t have to be a shutdown.” (Read more from “MTG Blames GOP Leadership for Shutdown” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted

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A federal grand jury indicted Letitia James on Thursday on allegations of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

The two-count indictment was obtained by Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan.

“This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system,” James said in a video responding to the indictment. “He is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to do his bidding all because I did by job as the New York state attorney general. These charges are baseless.”

President Donald Trump appointed Halligan in September after Erik Siebert, under pressure from Trump to bring charges, resigned.

(Read more from “New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted” HERE)

Circumcision ‘Highly Likely’ Linked to Autism, RFK Jr. Wildly Claims

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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stunningly claimed Thursday there may be a link between circumcision and autism – due to distribution of Tylenol to infants following the procedure.

“There’s two studies which show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, it’s highly likely, because they were given Tylenol,” Kennedy told President Trump during a cabinet meeting.

Kennedy didn’t specify the research to which he was referring, but a 2015 study out of Denmark that tracked nearly 343,000 Gen Z boys suggested that circumcised males were more likely to develop autism before the age of 10 compared to their non-circumcised peers.

Researchers hypothesized that pain and stressful surgery early in life can increase the risk of neurodevelopmental, behavioral or psychological problems later on.

However, some critics called the research “flawed” and said the study authors should have examined other painful conditions such as urinary tract infections, which are common in young children. (Read more from “Circumcision ‘Highly Likely’ Linked to Autism, RFK Jr. Wildly Claims” HERE)

More Than 30 Christians Beheaded, Church Burned Down: Report

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More than 30 Christians were beheaded in Mozambique last month, with churches and homes burned down, according to a new report.

The Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP), an affiliate of Islamic State, has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Christian civilians in the northern part of the African country, often in the Cabo Delgado province, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) said last Wednesday.

ISMP released photos, seen by MEMRI, showing militants killing people and setting fire to churches and homes across several villages.

Mozambique’s President Daniel Chapo said on Thursday that security in Cabo Delgado had improved thanks to the efforts of the national military, but that terrorism threats remained. (Read more from “More Than 30 Christians Beheaded, Church Burned Down: Report” HERE)

Trump to Send 400 Texas National Guard Troops to Illinois as Anti-ICE Protests Continue to Rage: Pritzker

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President Trump is deploying 400 Texas National Guard troops to Illinois, Oregon, and other states as swarms of anti-ICE protesters continue to clash with federal agents, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday night.

The Democrat blasted Trump’s “invasion” hours after the president mobilized 300 California National Guard members to Portland, where unrest has raged for over 100 consecutive days outside an immigration detention center — a scene that has been playing out in Chicago since September.

Pritzker said the plan defies his wishes, adding that federal officials haven’t reached out to coordinate or discuss the deployment.

“We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion,” the governor said in a post on X, encouraging “every American to speak up and help stop this madness.”

“It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will not involve sending in another state’s military troops. I call on [Texas] Governor [Greg] Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.” (Read more from “Trump to Send 400 Texas National Guard Troops to Illinois as Anti-ICE Protests Continue to Rage: Pritzker” HERE)

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Father of Hamas Hostage Furious With Netanyahu Despite Deal

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The father of a hostage held by Hamas militants has vented his anger at Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that the Israeli prime minister’s actions since the October 7, 2023 attacks prolonged the suffering of his son.

The comments by Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod has been held in captivity for over two years, follow President Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed the first phase of a Gaza peace deal to facilitate the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, around 20 of whom are believed to be still alive.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum praised Trump for his role in helping bring the captives home, but Yehuda Cohen told BBC radio program Today “due to Netanyahu’s personal and political interest, this was prolonged for two years.” . . .

The optimism expressed by the hostages’ families underscores the relief at the possible quick return of their loved ones. But Cohen’s comments have also expressed his fears over the physical and mental condition the captives – as well as anger at Netanyahu’s actions leading up to and during the war. (Read more from “Father of Hamas Hostage Furious With Netanyahu Despite Deal” HERE)

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Kash Patel Fires FBI Agents Involved in Tracking GOP Senators’ Phone Calls

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FBI Director Kash Patel has fired agents involved in tracking phone calls of eight Republican senators and a congressman as part of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of President Donald Trump.

Communication records belonging to GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (SC), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Ron Johnson (WI), Josh Hawley (MO), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Bill Hagerty (TN), Dan Sullivan (AK), Tommy Tuberville (AL), and Rep. Mike Kelly (PA) were handed over to Smith’s “Arctic Frost” team after they subpoenaed major phone companies in 2023, Breitbart News reported.

That fact was unknown to the public until this week, with Patel saying he discovered the files hidden in a “lockbox” that was placed in a “vault” in a “cyber place where no one can see or search these files.”

“You put it in there when you want to hide it from the world, and that takes the authorization of the attorney general and the director of the FBI,” Patel said in a Tuesday interview on Fox News. “So not only did they weaponize this law enforcement, but when we got in there, and when I got in as the FBI director, from my experience as Russiagate, I knew where to look and what rooms to open and what doors to kick down, and that’s what we did.” (Read more from “Kash Patel Fires FBI Agents Involved in Tracking GOP Senators’ Phone Calls” HERE)

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Democrat Lawmaker Charged with Statutory Rape of 15-Year-Old

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A Democrat North Carolina state representative was arrested and charged on Wednesday in the statutory rape of a teen.

Rep. Cecil Brockman who represents Guilford County is charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory rape of a person 13 to 15 years of age, Fox 8 reported Thursday.

The outlet said:

Warrants allege that in August of this year, Brockman “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did commit and attempt to commit lewd and lascivious act” with a 15-year-old victim.

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He was issued no bond upon arrest, and the magistrates order alleges that he has made attempts to locate the victim at a hospital and leverage his status as a representative to make contact the victim.

The representative is being held at the Guilford County Jail and expected to appear in court on Thursday afternoon, according to WRAL.

(Read more from “Democrat Lawmaker Charged with Statutory Rape of 15-Year-Old” HERE)

“Does Trump Have Photos With Young Women in Epstein Files?”: Pam Bondi Dodges Questions as Trump Reportedly Considers Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon

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A combative Senate Judiciary Committee hearing turned into a political firefight Tuesday when Attorney General Pam Bondi repeatedly refused to answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein — including whether President Donald Trump’s name or image appears in still-sealed Department of Justice files.

Bondi, who has come under mounting criticism for her handling of the Epstein investigation, deflected questions from Senate Democrats by attacking their credibility, raising her voice, and steering the discussion toward Democratic donors rather than addressing the substance of the inquiry.

“I’m Not Going to Discuss Anything About That”

When pressed by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) about who instructed her department to notify President Trump that his name appeared in connection with Epstein-related materials, Bondi stonewalled.

“I’m not going to discuss anything about that with you,” Bondi said bluntly.

“Eventually you’re going to have to answer for your conduct in this; you won’t do it today, but eventually you will,” Durbin responded.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) later raised the stakes, asking Bondi whether photos of Trump with “half-naked young women” were among the Epstein files held by the Justice Department. Instead of answering, Bondi pivoted to a political counterattack.

“You sit here and make salacious remarks, once again, trying to slander President Trump, left and right, when you’re the one who was taking money from one of Epstein’s closest confidants,” she said, referencing Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn founder and Democratic mega-donor who once had ties to Epstein’s fundraising efforts.

Bondi also accused Democrats of hypocrisy, asking why they didn’t release more Epstein-related documents when they held the majority.

Bondi Under Pressure Over Epstein Files

Bondi’s refusal to cooperate comes amid growing criticism over the Trump administration’s failure to release all Epstein investigation files. The House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas to obtain the full records, claiming that only a fraction of the material has been made public — and what has been released so far contains little new information.

Much of the public pressure has focused on Epstein’s long association with high-profile figures, including Trump, who had known Epstein for years before their reported falling out in the early 2000s.

Trump Reportedly Weighing Pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell

The Epstein saga re-entered national headlines this week after the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate who was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for sex trafficking.

Following the court’s decision, sources close to Trump’s inner circle reportedly told political advisers that the former president is considering a pardon for Maxwell if he is re-elected in 2024. The move would almost certainly provoke fierce public backlash and raise new questions about Trump’s relationship with both Epstein and Maxwell.

Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence, has maintained her innocence and argued that she should have been shielded from prosecution under Epstein’s 2007 non-prosecution agreement. That deal, brokered in Florida, granted Epstein and any potential “co-conspirators” immunity from future federal charges. Prosecutors in New York, however, dismissed that agreement as irrelevant to their jurisdiction.

The hearing underscored how Epstein’s legacy continues to haunt Washington. The late financier, who died in federal custody in 2019 under suspicious circumstances, left behind a trail of unanswered questions — and an explosive cache of documents that many believe could implicate powerful figures across the political spectrum.

Bondi’s refusal to answer direct questions only adds to suspicions, especially as Trump tries to distance himself from the scandal while reportedly entertaining the idea of freeing Epstein’s most notorious accomplice.

With more Epstein files potentially on the way and growing pressure from Congress, Bondi and the Trump-aligned Justice Department may not be able to avoid accountability for much longer.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr