President Donald Trump’s Justice Department has been given until 12 p.m. ET on Friday to address privacy concerns raised by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, about the possible release of grand jury transcripts and exhibits from the sex trafficking investigation.
Vice President JD Vance will host a strategy dinner at his official residence tonight to discuss the handling of the Epstein case, which has been roiling the Trump administration for more than a month.
CNN reports that the meeting will include White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who recently met with Maxwell.
Maxwell has been transferred to a minimum security prison camp in Texas since their meeting, and officials are now weighing whether to release an audio recording.
While Maxwell reportedly said she never saw President Donald Trump do anything concerning with his late friend, Epstein, conspiracy theories continue to swirl.
CNN reports that officials are considering asking podcaster Joe Rogan to help diffuse the uproar over the Epstein files with an interview, though he has been highly critical of the administration’s handling of the case.
What you need to know...
- JD Vance to hold crisis strategy meeting to discuss Epstein files, report says
- Trump admin has until noon Friday to respond to Epstein victims over grand jury transcript concerns
- Ghislaine Maxwell told Justice Department she never saw Trump do anything concerning with Epstein
- Trump admin considering asking Joe Rogan to help diffuse Epstein files furore, report says
- Trump approval 20 points underwater in new poll with 81% blaming him for Epstein info blackout
- Trump team weighs releasing Ghislaine Maxwell’s interview with DOJ officials, report says
How are the Clintons connected to Epstein?
18:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been subpoenaed by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee to give testimony about their past dealings with the late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In his letter to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee, committee chair James Comer wrote: “Your family appears to have had a close relationship with both Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.”
Joe Sommerlad looks at how they are connected.
Tulsi Gabbard asked directly if Epstein was an 'intelligence asset'
18:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard refused to rule out whether late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein served as an “intelligence asset,” during an awkward interview.
Former Democrat turned Trump-loyalist Gabbard sat down with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on the Pod Force One podcast, which was released today.
“Lastly, Epstein. Do you think there is any evidence that he could be, could’ve been, an intelligence asset, either for us or for foreign agencies?” Devine asked toward the end of the interview.
“Uh, I can tell you I haven’t seen anything, um, that’s come across my desk that reflects that,“ Gabbard responded.
The DNI continued: “Um, if that were to change and there was some credible information or intelligence, um, that that did come to light, um, you know, the president has made clear if there’s anything that’s credible out there ‘put it out there for the American people to see,’ and I would do exactly that.”
Gabbard then suggested that the “mainstream media” was trying to distract from President Donald Trump’s successes by dredging up the Epstein scandal.
There have long been reports and rumors suggesting that Epstein might have had links to the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.
The story was recently rejected by the former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, but is promoted by some conservative commentators, including former Fox News star Tucker Carlson.
A former victim of Epstein’s claimed he boasted about being a Mossad agent, though no evidence has ever confirmed this.
Here’s Mike Bedigan with more:
Clintons ordered to testify in Jeffrey Epstein investigation
18:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
Bill and Hillary Clinton are set to testify before the House Oversight Committee in October as the panel investigates the cases involving pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted sex trafficking accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the committee, tweeted a list of testimony dates on Tuesday for upcoming witnesses — including the former president and secretary of state — who are compelled by subpoena to appear.
Several other top federal officials, including former Attorney General Merrick Garland, are also scheduled to testify.
John Bowden reports.
Trump admin considering asking Joe Rogan to help diffuse Epstein files furore: report
18:06
,
Oliver O'Connell
Tonight’s Epstein strategy meeting hosted by Vice President JD Vance comes as the Trump administration considers releasing the contents of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s interview last month with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Two officials told CNN that the materials from the meeting with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice could be made public as early as this week.
There have also been internal discussions about Blanche holding a press conference or doing a high-profile interview, and one name that emerged as a possibility was podcaster Joe Rogan, three people familiar with the discussions told CNN. Those conversations are only preliminary at this stage, the network notes.
Rogan, who endorsed President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, has been highly critical of the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case and previously called their refusal to release more information about Epstein a “line in the sand.”
Rogan has also accused Trump of “gaslighting” his supporters over the Epstein files.
The podcaster criticized the administration’s handling of information regarding Epstein during a July 25 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, featuring guest Mike Baker, a former CIA covert operations officer.
“This one’s a line in the sand, because this is one where there’s a lot of stuff about, you know, when we thought Trump was going to come in and a lot of things are going to be resolved, going to drain the swamp, going to figure everything out, and when you have this one hardcore line in the sand that everybody had been talking about forever, and then they’re trying to gaslight you on that,” said Rogan.
Trump supporters grew furious earlier this month when the administration released a memo rejecting conspiracy theories regarding the official ruling on Epstein’s death as being by suicide in a Manhattan jail in August 2019. The memo stated that there was no “client list” and that no more information about the case would be released.
The Epstein files have been the subject of a litany of conspiracy theories, mostly stemming from the right.
Here’s what the Epstein schism could mean for the MAGA base:
Maxwell not welcome in Texas ‘Club Fed’ prison camp, says inmate
17:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to a minimum-security prison in Texas — commonly referred to as a ‘Club Fed’ — has upset her fellow inmates, who believe she shouldn’t be there given the nature of her crimes.
The disgraced British socialite and former girlfriend of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was quietly transferred this week from a stricter low-security prison in Tallahassee, Florida, to a prison camp 100 miles outside Houston, Texas.
Maxwell’s new prison mainly houses inmates convicted of “white-collar” crimes and minor offenses, and they are said to be angry about her presence.
Read on...
Ghislaine Maxwell fights DOJ move to unseal grand jury records
17:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein who after his death was convicted of sex trafficking girls and young women as his accomplice, is opposing the government’s requests to unseal the grand jury transcripts in her criminal case.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Meanwhile, on Truth Social...
17:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
Here’s what has been on President Donald Trump’s mind this morning (in between slapping more tariffs on India and speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky).
He lashed out at Senator Chuck Schumer, calling him and other Democrats “extortionists”:
Politically embattled Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, wants the Republicans to pay, as EXTORTION, TWO BILLION DOLLARS in order for the Radical Left Democrats to approve the hundreds of Trump Appointments who have been waiting for months, and are raring’ to go. This has never happened before. There has never, in U.S. history, been such a delay. THEY ARE EXTORTIONISTS! Republicans must create legislation in order to get out of the grasp of these Country hating THUGS. Move quickly!!! MAGA
He posted a video of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard discussing her accusations of an attempted “coup” by former President Barack Obama with Laura Ingraham, writing:
Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard: “Obama directed that a National Security Council meeting be called... They were tasked to create an Intelligence Assessment that detailed how Moscow tried to influence the election—not 'if'—but 'how'... They knowingly wrote things in this assessment that were false.”
More on that here, as AG Pam Bondi orders a grand jury investigation.
And he proclaimed that he had donated his salary to the White House Historical Association:
I am proud to be the only President (with the possible exception of the Late, Great George Washington) to donate my Salary. My first “Paycheck” went to the White House Historical Association, as we make much needed renovations to the beautiful “People’s House.” Great improvements and beautification is taking place at the White House, at levels not seen since its original creation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Earlier, he celebrated his 36 Club Championships in golf:
Donald J. Trump Truth Social 08.06.25 09:22 AM EST
— Fan Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) August 6, 2025
36 Club Championships! pic.twitter.com/ue0UEHjIOy
More context on that below:
‘I read about it just like you’: Trump says he ‘didn’t know’ about Ghislaine Maxwell transfer from prison to Texas Club Fed
17:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump says that he was not behind the order directing Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer from a prison facility in Florida to a minimum security facility in Texas dubbed “Club Fed”.
The president claimed on Tuesday that he’d only learned about the prison transfer in news reports. Maxwell remains in prison on a 20-year sentence for crimes committed with Jeffrey Epstein, her former boyfriend. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting charges for sex trafficking children.
“I didn’t know about it at all. I read about it just like you did,” Trump told a reporter.
John Bowden reports.
Murdoch to provide Trump regular health updates in deal to delay Epstein letter defamation deposition
16:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
Right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch has agreed to give Donald Trump regular health updates in a deal to postpone Murdoch’s deposition in the president’s $10 billion lawsuit over a Wall Street Journal article about a “bawdy” birthday letter Trump allegedly wrote to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Justin Baragona has the details.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s cushy prison transfer roils federal prison staffers
16:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Current and former federal prison workers are reportedly furious that Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was recently transferred to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas known as “Club Fed” for its relatively relaxed conditions.
Following Maxwell’s transfer to the Bryan Federal Prison Camp, which was disclosed by federal officials on Friday, Bureau of Prisons staff shared their thoughts in a private Facebook group for vetted agency employees and retirees, NBC News reports.
Josh Marcus has the story.
Gloria Allred to hold press conference with Epstein victim today
16:21
,
Oliver O'Connell
High-profile attorney Gloria Allred, who has represented 27 victims of Jeffrey Epstein, will hold a press event at 3 p.m. ET today with one of the survivors of abuse by the late sex offender.
According to an announcement, the victim was the first person to have documented proof that she filed a police report against Jeffrey Epstein in 1997, alleging that he sexually battered her.
At the press conference, the victim will respond for the first time to questions about recent developments, such as:
- Should the Epstein files be released?
- Should Ghislaine Maxwell be pardoned by the President?
- Did you ever meet Virginia Giuffre?
- If you did, what did you discuss?
- Do you want Ms. Maxwell to testify before Congress?
- How do you feel about seeing the Jeffrey Epstein story in the news almost every day?
Allred will discuss what the next step should be to help and protect victims from sexual predators and what positive changes Congress should consider, given the failures of the criminal justice system to protect victims from being preyed upon by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Trump admin has until noon Friday to respond to Epstein victims
16:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Judge Richard Berman had given the Trump administration until 12 p.m. ET on Friday to respond to yesterday’s filings by the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell regarding the unsealing of grand jury testimony and accompanying exhibits.
He wants to know to what extent the information included has already been made public and what the government’s position is on unsealing the exhibits in addition to the transcripts.
“The survivors support transparency when it can be achieved without sacrificing their safety, privacy, or dignity,” lawyers for the survivors wrote in a letter to the judge weighing unsealing transcripts from the investigation into Maxwell.
“But transparency cannot come at the expense of the very people whom the justice system is sworn to protect — particularly amid contemporaneous events that magnify risk and trauma: the public platforming of Ms. Maxwell as a purportedly credible commentator despite her sex-trafficking conviction and perjury charges, her transfer to lower-security custody, a government request to unseal filed without conferral, and the looming specter of clemency,” they added.
How are Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein connected?
16:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have been subpoenaed by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee to give testimony about their past dealings with the late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In his letter to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee, committee chair James Comer wrote: “Your family appears to have had a close relationship with both Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.”
Joe Sommerlad takes a look at what he’s referring to.
Democrat lawmaker likes Vance strategy dinner to mob 'family meeting'
15:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
A family meeting. Yeah this is how the mob does it, too. https://t.co/kzJbR0B433
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 6, 2025
Family of Epstein victim issues statement on JD Vance strategy dinner
15:47
,
Oliver O'Connell
The family of Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, issued a new statement Wednesday on the meeting planned at Vice President JD Vance’s residence tonight regarding the Trump administration’s strategy on the Epstein Files.
Sky and Amanda Roberts, and Danny and Lanette Wilson, released the following statement:
“We understand that Vice President JD Vance will hold a strategy session this evening at his residence with administration officials. Missing from this group is, of course, any survivor of the vicious crimes of convicted perjurer and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Their voices must be heard, above all. We also call upon the House subcommittee to invite survivors to testify.
“As Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s siblings, we offer to represent her in her stead and we hope the administration takes our call to action seriously.
“Any information that may be released by the government should take into account the survivors who wish to remain anonymous, for their safety and well-being. They should be consulted first.
“We reiterate that Ghislaine Maxwell should have remained in a maximum security prison and does not deserve the luxuries currently afforded her.”
‘Jeffrey Epstein is dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is not’: Sex trafficker fights DOJ move to unseal grand jury records
15:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, who, after his death, was convicted of sex trafficking girls and young women as his accomplice, is opposing the government’s requests to unseal the grand jury transcripts in her criminal case.
The Trump administration has been firefighting the fallout from the so-called “Epstein Files” since the DOJ released a memo last month that contained little new information and concluded no further investigation was warranted into the late sex offender’s alleged sex trafficking scheme.
Kelly Rissman reports on Maxwell’s opposition to the release of the grand jury transcripts that saw her tried and convicted in federal court.
Trump slaps new tariffs on India over Russian oil imports
15:36
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, imposing an additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil.
This brings the combined tariffs levied by his administration on the country to 50%.
The new import taxes take effect 21 days after the order's signing, potentially allowing India and Russia time to negotiate with the administration.
The move threatens to further complicate US-Indian relations and comes shortly after an Indian government source said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit China for the first time in over seven years later this month.
U.S.-India ties are facing their most serious crisis in years after talks with India failed to produce a trade agreement.
With reporting from Reuters
Trump says he ‘didn’t know’ about Ghislaine Maxwell transfer from prison to Texas Club Fed
15:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump says that he was not behind the order directing Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer from a prison facility in Florida to a minimum security facility in Texas dubbed “Club Fed”.
The president claimed on Tuesday that he’d only learned about the prison transfer in news reports. Maxwell remains in prison on a 20-year sentence for crimes committed with Jeffrey Epstein, her former boyfriend. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting charges for sex trafficking children.
John Bowden reports.
Will Trump administration release Ghislaine Maxwell's interview?
15:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
The Trump administration is considering publicly releasing an audio recording of an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell and senior officials from the Department of Justice about Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new report.
It was previously unknown that such a recording existed, and officials are currently discussing whether to release a transcript of the discussion between the British socialite and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Kelly Rissman reports.
White House: Apple to pledge $100B for US manufacturing
15:19
,
Oliver O'Connell
Apple is poised to announce a significant new financial commitment of an additional $100 billion towards expanding its production footprint within the U.S.
The pledge, confirmed by a White House official speaking on condition of anonymity, aligns with President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff and trade agenda, which aims to repatriate manufacturing jobs to the U.S. It will be officially announced this afternoon.
This latest commitment follows Apple's earlier declaration in February, where the tech giant outlined plans to invest $500 billion in U.S. operations over the next four years. That broader initiative includes the establishment of a giant factory in Texas dedicated to artificial intelligence servers, alongside the creation of approximately 20,000 research and development positions nationwide.
Trump's tariffs cost Apple $800 million in the June quarter and spurred some customers to buy iPhones in late spring this year.
In response, Apple has been strategically re-routing production for products destined for the U.S. market, sourcing iPhones from India and other devices, such as Macs and Apple Watches, from Vietnam.
The ultimate tariff rates applicable to many Apple products remain uncertain, though a number of its products are currently exempt.
With reporting from Reuters
Bill and Hillary Clinton ordered to testify in congressional Epstein probe
15:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
Bill and Hillary Clinton are scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee in October as the panel probes the investigations into pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted sex trafficking accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the committee, tweeted a list of testimony dates on Tuesday for upcoming witnesses — including the former president and secretary of state — who are compelled to appear by subpoena.
Several other leading federal officials, including former Attorney General Merrick Garland, are also scheduled to testify.
John Bowden reports from Washington, D.C.
15:09
,
Oliver O'Connell
Report: Ghislaine Maxwell told Justice Department she never saw Trump do anything concerning with Epstein
14:58
,
Oliver O'Connell
Ghislaine Maxwell said that she never saw Donald Trump do anything that would cause concern, during her hours-long meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche over the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to ABC News.
The Trump administration is considering whether to release the transcript from Blanche’s meetings with Maxwell last month, ABC News reported. CNN first reported that the meeting was recorded and is being digitized.
Kelly Rissman has the latest.
Trump approval 20 points underwater in new poll with 81% blaming him for Epstein info blackout
14:47
,
Oliver O'Connell
Public approval of Donald Trump’s presidency has dropped by 6 percentage points since April, and his approval rating is now 20 points underwater, 38-58, according to a new national University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll of 1,000 respondents conducted July 25-30.
“Six months into his second term as president, Donald Trump looks to be on the ropes with the American public,” says Tatishe Nteta, provost professor of political science at UMass Amherst and director of the poll.
“Trump’s approval ratings, already historically low for a newly elected president, continue to sink, with close to 6-in-10 Americans (58%) expressing disapproval of the job that Trump is doing in office.
“While Trump remains a popular figure among Republicans and conservatives, Trump’s time in office is viewed more negatively across genders, generations, classes, and races, with majorities of each of these groups disapproving of Trump’s performance.
“With over three years left in the Trump administration, there is still time for him to right the ship and fulfill the promises that catapulted him to the presidency, but the president is not off to the start he or his supporters envisioned.”
On specific issues, Trump’s performance, rated on a percentage approve to disapprove, is as follows:
- Inflation: 31-63 (33-62 April 2025)
- Immigration: 41-54 (50-46 April 2025)
- Jobs: 37-55 (38-53 April 2025)
- Civil Rights: 32-58 (36-53 April 2025)
- Tariffs: 31-63 (Not asked in April 2025)
- Natural Disasters: 37-53 (Not asked in April 2025)
Of all issues surveyed in the latest University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll, one appears to be the greatest drag on Trump’s presidency: Jeffrey Epstein and Trump’s handling of the evidence gathered in the federal investigation of the accused sex trafficker and his long-time friend.
Some 63 percent of respondents believe the Trump administration is hiding information about the case, and 59 percent believe a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the Justice Department’s handling of the case.
Most alarmingly for Trump, 81 percent of respondents believe he is personally responsible for hiding information about the investigation into Epstein.
Vance to hold crisis strategy meeting to discuss Epstein files, report says
14:27
,
Oliver O'Connell
CNN reports that top Trump administration officials will gather at the vice president’s residence Wednesday evening as they continue to decide whether to release an audio recording and transcript of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s recent conversation with Ghislaine Maxwell, an accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein.
The administration’s handling of the Epstein case, along with the need to develop a unified response, is expected to be a main focus of the dinner, according to three sources familiar with the meeting. The attendees will include White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Blanche.
With the exception of Vance, these officials are considered the leaders of the administration’s ongoing strategy regarding the Epstein files, two sources said.
The meeting occurs as Trump’s administration weighs the possibility of releasing the contents of Blanche’s interview with Maxwell last month. Two officials told CNN that the materials could be made public as soon as this week.
Good morning
14:25
,
Oliver O'Connell
Welcome back to our rolling coverage of the latest developments in Trumpworld as the scandal over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files continues.
This evening, Trump officials will gather at Vice President JD Vance’s residence to discuss strategy, according to reporting by CNN.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell is said to have been given special preference in her transfer to a “Club Fed” minimum security prison camp in Texas, The Washington Post reports. President Donald Trump yesterday denied any part in her relocation from prison in Florida. She is currently serving 20 years for sex trafficking underage girls to Epstein.
And finally, the House Oversight Committee has issued nearly a dozen subpoenas for information related to Epstein. One subpoena sent to the Department of Justice requests that all Epstein files in its possession, as well as any communications between former Biden administration officials and the DOJ related to the case, be handed over to Congress.
Subpoenas were also issued to 10 prominent Democratic and Republican figures, requesting closed-door depositions. This includes both former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
'This makes me sick': Ghislaine Maxwell’s cushy prison transfer roils federal prison staffers
Tuesday 5 August 2025 22:54
,
Oliver O'Connell
Current and former federal prison workers are reportedly furious that Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was recently transferred to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas referred to as “Club Fed” for its relatively relaxed conditions.
Josh Marcus reports.
