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    Sen. Mike Lee Says Most Republicans Don’t Know McConnell’s Condition

    By
    Patrick Houck
    -
    4
    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    WASHINGTON — Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) says most Republican senators have little or no firsthand knowledge of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s medical condition, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the Kentucky Republican as he remains hospitalized weeks after a serious medical emergency.

    Lee made the remarks when asked about McConnell’s prolonged absence from the Senate, saying rank-and-file lawmakers have received few details beyond the limited public statements released by McConnell’s office.

    ‘Most Of Us Don’t Know’

    Lee acknowledged that speculation has grown because so little official information has been released.

    His comments contrast with earlier remarks from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who previously said McConnell “sounded good” during a recent conversation. Lee indicated that most senators have not received similar updates and remain largely in the dark about their colleague’s condition.

    Office Continues To Release Limited Information

    McConnell’s office has consistently maintained that the 84-year-old senator is recovering and remains engaged with Senate business.

    In its latest public statement, spokesman David Popp said McConnell “continues to improve” and is working with staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while Congress is in recess. The office has not disclosed his diagnosis, prognosis, or expected discharge date.

    Medical Emergency Prompted Questions

    McConnell has not appeared publicly since June 14, when emergency responders were dispatched to his Washington residence.

    Emergency dispatch audio reviewed by multiple news organizations described an unconscious patient and referenced CPR in progress. McConnell’s office has not confirmed the specific medical event that led to his hospitalization.

    The absence of detailed updates has fueled intense online speculation, including unverified claims promoted by White House confidant Laura Loomer. McConnell’s office has offered no support for those assertions, saying only that the senator continues to improve.

    Questions Persist As Senate Recess Continues

    The Senate remains in recess until later this month, giving McConnell additional time to recover before lawmakers return to Washington.

    Whether he will be able to resume his duties when the Senate reconvenes remains unclear. McConnell previously announced he will not seek reelection and plans to retire when his current term expires in January 2027.

    For now, Lee’s comments highlight what many senators have acknowledged privately: beyond the brief statements released by McConnell’s aides, even many of his Republican colleagues say they know little about his current condition.

    READ NEXT: McConnell’s Neighbor Breaks The Silence

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    Trump Says He Aims To Suspend Gas Tax

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2

    President Donald Trump said Monday that he supports temporarily suspending the federal gas tax as Americans face soaring fuel prices ahead of the busy Memorial Day travel season.

    “I think it’s a great idea,” Trump said during a phone interview with CBS News. “Yup, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in.”

    Gas prices have surged more than 50% since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, with the national average climbing above $4.52 per gallon on Sunday, according to AAA. Analysts warn prices could remain elevated as tensions in the Middle East continue and Iran blocks access to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.

    The federal gas tax currently adds 18.4 cents per gallon to gasoline prices and 24.4 cents per gallon to diesel fuel. However, suspending the tax would require approval from Congress and could cost the federal government roughly $500 million per week in lost revenue.

    Several Democrat lawmakers have already introduced legislation aimed at either lowering or temporarily suspending the federal gas tax to provide relief to consumers struggling with higher prices at the pump.

    Revenue generated by the federal gas tax funds the Highway Trust Fund, which supports road construction and repairs, along with other transportation and transit projects across the country.

    The push for relief comes as AAA projects a record-breaking Memorial Day travel weekend. According to the organization, roughly 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25, slightly surpassing last year’s total.

    Of those travelers, an estimated 39.1 million are expected to drive to their destinations despite fuel prices reaching their highest levels since 2022. AAA also warned drivers to expect the heaviest traffic congestion on May 21 and 22 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., as well as during the afternoon of May 25. Sunday is expected to be the lightest travel day of the holiday weekend.

    Meanwhile, about 3.66 million Americans are expected to fly during the holiday period, accounting for roughly 8% of all travelers. AAA noted that round-trip domestic airfare is currently about 6% cheaper than it was last year.

    However, Trump’s idea to pause the federal gas tax faces an uphill climb in Congress.

    While rank-and-file GOP lawmakers are eager to get Trump’s backing on any plan to address cost-of-living concerns in a midterm election year, top Republicans are hesitant to endorse the gas tax idea, according to reporting from The Hill.

    Trump’s proposal for a federal gas tax holiday got some initial enthusiasm Monday, with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) quickly saying they would introduce legislation to suspend the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal tax.

    However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) pointed out that it supports the Highway Trust Fund, which finances the Interstate Highway System and other surface transportation systems. 

    “The best way to get gas prices to normalize in my view is to get the strait open,” Thune said Monday, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. “We do have a Highway Trust Fund and it does perform an important service in making sure that we’ve got highways and roadways across our country that are serviceable.”

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    GOP Split Emerges Over Potential Maxwell Pardon In Epstein Investigation

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    4

    A Divided Republican Conference

    Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are facing an internal divide over a sensitive and politically risky question: whether Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein, should be considered for a presidential pardon in exchange for cooperation with investigators.

    The discussion has largely taken place behind closed doors, but it reflects a broader tension between uncovering new information and maintaining public confidence in the justice system.

    Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) acknowledged the split, noting that some Republicans believe Maxwell could provide valuable testimony about Epstein’s network if offered clemency. Still, Comer made clear he is not among them.

    • He warned that a pardon “looks bad” politically and ethically
    • He emphasized Maxwell’s central role in the underlying crimes
    • He argued that granting leniency could undermine trust in the investigation

    Comer summed up his position bluntly, describing Maxwell as one of the most culpable figures in the case.

    Democrats Firmly Opposed

    Democrats on the committee are unified in rejecting any potential deal.

    Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) strongly criticized the idea, arguing that offering clemency to Maxwell would be offensive to victims and damaging to the integrity of the investigation.

    Key concerns raised by Democrats include:

    • The impact on survivors of Epstein’s abuse
    • The credibility of any testimony obtained through a pardon
    • The risk of public perception shifting toward a “cover-up”

    Garcia warned that even considering such an arrangement could erode confidence in the process and send the wrong signal about accountability.

    Maxwell’s Leverage and Conditions

    Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s trafficking operation. So far, she has declined to cooperate with congressional investigators under existing conditions.

    Her legal team, however, has signaled a willingness to engage if circumstances change.

    According to her attorney:

    • Maxwell would be willing to testify “fully and honestly”
    • Any cooperation would be contingent on clemency
    • She is positioned as a key source of information about Epstein’s network

    Her attorney has also claimed that Maxwell could shed light on the involvement, or lack thereof, of high-profile figures, including former presidents. Those assertions have not eased skepticism among lawmakers.

    The Political and Legal Stakes

    President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of granting clemency, leaving the issue open and politically charged.

    The debate highlights a difficult tradeoff:

    • Potential benefit: New details about Epstein’s network and associates
    • Potential cost: Perceived erosion of justice and accountability

    For many lawmakers, the question is not just what Maxwell might reveal, but whether the price of that information is too high.

    Why This Matters

    At its core, the disagreement reflects a broader challenge facing investigators and policymakers:

    • How far should the government go to obtain critical information?
    • Can justice and transparency be balanced in a case with this level of public scrutiny?

    There is no clear consensus, and the path forward remains uncertain.

    What are your thoughts? Should a pardon be considered if it leads to new information about Epstein’s network? Share your perspective in the comments below.

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    Senate Confirms Markwayne Mullin As DHS Chief

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Indian Affairs Committee Hearings to examine Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act successes and opportunities at the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service, in Washington, DC on September 17, 2025. (Official U.S. Senate photo by Ryan Donnell)

    On Monday evening, the Senate voted to confirm Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R) to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

    Mullin, who was picked by President Donald Trump earlier this month to lead the Department of Homeland Security, was confirmed on a largely party-line vote. Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined nearly every Republican to clinch his nomination.

    Before voting to support the nomination, Heinrich said he crossed party lines because he has seen that Mullin — who co-chairs the Senate Legislative Branch spending committee with him — “is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views.”

    “And I look forward to having a secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller,” Heinrich said.

    Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the only Republican to vote against Mullin, citing their chilly relationship and Mullin’s past comments that his 2017 assault was “justified.”

    Mullin’s confirmation also saw the close of a whirlwind month in which Noem was reassigned after an explosive pair of hearings on Capitol Hill, as well as the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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    Trump Allies Plan Senate Floor Protest To Pass SAVE America Act

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    President Trump’s allies are preparing to turn the Senate floor into a political pressure cooker this week.

    Their target: the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act — a bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

    Their strategy: keep the Senate debating it for as long as possible.

    That plan sets up a major test for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who is under intense pressure from Trump and the MAGA base to drag the fight out and force Democrats to defend their opposition in public.

    Republicans are keeping their exact floor strategy under wraps. But one thing is clear: they’re expecting long days, late nights, and a drawn-out showdown.

    “This is about exhausting Democrats,” one Republican strategist said bluntly. “The point is pain.”

    The goal, he added, is simple: force a public confrontation and see who cracks.

    “Is this going to be a fistfight or not? How bloody is Thune going to make this?”

    Sen. Mike Lee, one of the bill’s leading champions, says Trump wants Republicans to go all-in. Lee has even pointed to the Senate’s legendary two-month battle over the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a model.

    “What I want to do is maximize the time we debate it,” Lee said.

    Back in 1964, he noted, supporters faced a 32-vote cloture deficit when the bill arrived in the Senate. Sixty days later, they had the votes. Lee believes extended debate can work the same way here — by raising public pressure and forcing reluctant lawmakers to reconsider.

    Meanwhile, Trump is watching closely. The former president has already warned he won’t sign other legislation until the SAVE Act reaches his desk. Whether he’s satisfied with the Senate fight, Lee said, depends on one thing: whether Republicans “gave it everything we have.”

    But there’s a catch.

    Thune is already warning that the votes simply aren’t there for some of the more aggressive tactics Trump’s allies want — including forcing Democrats into a “talking filibuster.”

    Some Republicans are wary anyway. A talking filibuster could backfire by allowing Democrats to force politically painful amendment votes — including votes on restoring Medicaid cuts or extending Obamacare subsidies. So instead of forcing Democrats to hold the floor indefinitely, Thune appears likely to let Republicans do the talking — keeping the bill on the floor long enough to turn the debate itself into a political weapon.

    Democrats say they’re ready.

    “We’re prepared for every possible scenario,” Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D) said Sunday.

    His caucus views the SAVE Act as a major threat to voting rights. Some Republicans believe Democrats could filibuster the bill for weeks — or even months — by introducing a constant stream of amendments. Which is why the next few days may not just be about passing legislation.

    They may be about staging a Senate spectacle.

    As Lee put it:

    “This bill needs to stay on the floor for as long as it takes.”

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    House GOP Moves To Censure Congressman After Interrupting Trump Speech – Again

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    6
    Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    A new effort is underway among House Republicans to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) after he was removed from President Donald Trump’s primetime address for the second consecutive year.

    Green was ejected from Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night just minutes after the president entered the House chamber. As Trump approached the podium, Green stood holding a sign that read, in all capital letters, “Black people are not apes.” He remained standing with the sign visible as the president began speaking, prompting intervention by the Sergeant at Arms.

    Rep. Mike Rulli (R-Ohio) told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that he is seeking support for a formal censure resolution against Green.

    “His shenanigans at the State of the Union were uncalled for,” Rulli said. “We can’t really put up with that kind of conduct in Congress. Something had to be done.”

    Rulli added, “I’m looking for as many co-sponsors from our conference as possible. And I’m reaching across the aisle for anyone over there that was embarrassed by their own guy.”

    According to the text of Rulli’s resolution, first obtained by Fox News Digital, Green’s actions constituted a “breach of conduct.” The resolution further notes that it “was the second time in less than a year that the Representative from Texas had to be removed from the chamber by the Sergeant at Arms due to unpatriotic disruptions that violated numerous House rules related to decorum.”

    This is not the first time Green has faced formal rebuke from the House. In March 2025, the House of Representatives voted to censure him after he disrupted a previous presidential address by waving his cane and shouting over Trump as the president attempted to deliver his remarks. Ten Democrats joined Republicans in passing that resolution.

    Green has long been one of Trump’s most vocal critics in Congress. During Trump’s first term, Green repeatedly introduced articles of impeachment against the president, beginning as early as 2017. His efforts, which cited allegations ranging from obstruction of justice to rhetoric he characterized as discriminatory or inflammatory, were unsuccessful and did not advance out of the House. While Democrats later pursued separate impeachment proceedings that led to two Senate trials, Green’s early impeachment resolutions did not gain sufficient support within his own party to move forward.

    Following his removal Tuesday night, Green defended his actions.

    “I refuse to tolerate this level of hate that the president is in fact putting into policy. We must take a stand against this level of invidious discrimination,” Green told reporters.

    “I wanted him to know, and I wanted them to see it and hear it. Up close. But judging from the expression on his face, he got the message. He saw it,” Green said.

    Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stopped short of committing to a vote on Rulli’s latest censure resolution but indicated he would allow members to decide.

    “Al Green was removed pretty quickly. I don’t know if censure is going to be appropriate. I’ll let our colleagues decide that,” Johnson said. “The point of a censure, is to bring someone to the House floor and bring shame upon them for their actions. I think they showed the American people shame already.”

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    Trump Says DOJ Is Investigating Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    4
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    President Donald Trump announced Monday on social media that the Justice Department is investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), escalating a long-running clash with the progressive “Squad” lawmaker amid ongoing tensions in Minneapolis.

    “The DOJ and Congress are looking at ‘Congresswoman’ Illhan [sic] Omar, who left Somalia with NOTHING, and is now reportedly worth more than 44 Million Dollars,” Trump shared. “Time will tell all. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

    Trump made the announcement early Monday as Minneapolis remained on edge after a chaotic weekend. Unrest intensified after a federal immigration agent fatally shot an armed anti-ICE protester during demonstrations opposing immigration enforcement efforts. Trump also said he is dispatching border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota.

    The Truth Social post also pointed to broader concerns about fraud and misuse of taxpayer-funded programs in the state.

    Trump added that a major investigation into the “massive 20 Billion Dollar, Plus, Welfare Fraud that has taken place in Minnesota” has been launched, arguing that it is “at least partially responsible for the violent organized protests going on in the streets.”

    Omar Responds, Calls Trump’s Claim a “Deflection”

    Omar quickly pushed back, accusing Trump of using her as a political distraction.

    In response, Omar posted on social media: “Sorry, Trump, your support is collapsing and you’re panicking. Right on cue, you’re deflecting from your failures with lies and conspiracy theories about me. Years of ‘investigations’ have found nothing.”

    She added: “Get your goons out of Minnesota.”

    Omar has been one of the loudest critics of immigration enforcement under Trump and has accused ICE of carrying out a “terror campaign.” She also claimed a federal agent “murdered” Renee Good, an anti-ICE activist who was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent after she allegedly drove her car toward him.

    DHS Secretary Noem Praises Homan Deployment

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday that sending Tom Homan to Minnesota will bring “peace, safety, and accountability” to Minneapolis as federal authorities dig deeper into suspected fraud and expand enforcement operations.

    “This is good news for peace, safety, and accountability in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on X.

    “I have worked closely with Tom over the last year and he has been a major asset to our team— his experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the of [sic] streets of Minneapolis,” she added. “We continue to call on the leadership in Minnesota to allow for state and local partnership in our public safety mission.”

    Trump-Omar Feud Reaches New Level Amid Minnesota Immigration Crackdown

    Trump and Omar have been feuding for years, but their confrontation has intensified in recent weeks as the Trump administration surged immigration enforcement resources into Minnesota. Trump has sent 3,000 immigration agents to the state, with Minneapolis—represented by Omar—receiving special focus.

    The president has also highlighted a series of fraud scandals in Minnesota’s social service system, with several cases drawing scrutiny for alleged ties to networks operating within Somali American communities.

    Last week, Trump again targeted Omar personally, accusing her of benefiting financially during her time in Congress and demanding an investigation into her wealth.

    “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is worth over $30 Million Dollars,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There is no way such wealth could have been accumulated, legally, while being paid the salary of a politician. She should be investigated for Financial and Political Crimes, and that investigation should start, NOW!”

    Financial Disclosures Raise Questions as Trump Points to Wealth Claims

    While Trump claimed Omar is worth more than $44 million, Omar’s official financial disclosures suggest a smaller—but still significant—range that critics argue deserves scrutiny.

    In a May 2025 financial disclosure, Omar listed two large assets tied to her husband, whom she married in 2020. One is a winery business valued between $1 million and $5 million, and the other is a venture capital firm valued between $5 million and $25 million. Based on the valuations, Omar and her husband have a net worth between $6 million and $30 million, minus liabilities, such as Omar’s student loan debt of between $15,000 and $50,000 that she disclosed on a 2024 form.

    Members of Congress are required to file annual financial disclosures designed to promote transparency and reduce corruption. The disclosures typically report ranges of asset values, rather than exact dollar figures—meaning a lawmaker’s true net worth can be difficult to pinpoint from public documents alone.

    Still, Trump and his supporters argue that Omar’s reported rise in wealth should be investigated, especially given her vocal role in shaping federal policy debates and her influence within the Democratic Party’s activist wing.

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    Fox Host Predicts Next Top Dem to Be Axed — Once They Oust Chuck Schumer

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    6
    Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer attend medal ceremony via Wikimedia Commons

    As Democrats face growing internal turmoil, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is under fire from members of his own party — and some say the unrest may soon spread to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

    During Thursday’s segment of Fox & Friends, host Lawrence Jones offered a pointed prediction about who might be the next Democrat to fall out of favor with the party’s increasingly fractured base.

    “Quick prediction: Jeffries is next,” Jones told co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Ainsley Earhardt. “They’re gonna get rid of him next. First, it was Schumer. They’re not happy with Jeffries either. They don’t like his alignment with AIPAC and have been very critical of how he operates.”

    Jones added that many progressives in the Democratic Party “don’t respect” Jeffries and that his position had been shielded for years by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

    “Nancy Pelosi kind of protected him,” Jones said. “But now that she’s retiring, I believe he’s going to be the next target.”

    Democrats in Disarray

    The Democratic Party’s internal divisions have been on full display amid the historic 43-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. Schumer, struggling to hold his caucus together, lost seven Democrats and one Independent who sided with Republicans to support a short-term continuing resolution that ultimately reopened the government.

    That rebellion has led several prominent progressives — including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) — to openly question Schumer’s leadership and even call for his ouster. Although no formal challenge has yet materialized, the discontent is unmistakable.

    Pressure Mounts on Party Leadership

    Many Democrats are torn between the party’s traditional pro-Israel establishment figures like Schumer and Jeffries, and the ascendant left-wing faction that has become increasingly critical of Israel and of AIPAC’s influence in Washington.

    Jones’s comments reflect a broader sense that Democratic leadership is losing control of its own base — particularly among younger, more progressive voters frustrated by what they see as political compromise and a lack of clear vision.

    A Growing Divide

    The potential downfall of two of the party’s most powerful figures — Schumer in the Senate and Jeffries in the House — would mark a stunning shift within Democratic ranks.

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    House Democrats Release Emails Linking Epstein and Trump in Ongoing Oversight Probe

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    7
    By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

    Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday released a new batch of emails connected to Jeffrey Epstein that reference President Donald Trump.

    The correspondence, which includes messages between Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and author Michael Wolff, was reportedly obtained from Epstein’s estate as part of an ongoing congressional review of more than 23,000 documents.

    By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer – https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/clinton-epstein-maxwell/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143417695

    In a 2011 email to Maxwell, Epstein wrote that Mr. Trump “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s alleged victims, whose name was redacted. “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is Trump. [Victim 1] spent hours at my house with him, he has never once been mentioned,” Epstein wrote. Maxwell responded, “I have been thinking about that…”

    Another message, dated January 31, 2019, appears to show Epstein corresponding with Wolff about Mr. Trump and Mar-a-Lago. “Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever. of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop,” Epstein wrote.

    A third exchange between Epstein and Wolff, dated December 15, 2015, discusses how then-candidate Trump might respond to media questions about his connection to Epstein. Wolff wrote, “I hear CNN planning to ask Trump tonight about his relationship with you—either on air or in scrum afterwards.” Epstein replied, “if we were able to craft an answer for him, what do you think it should be?” Wolff responded, “I think you should let him hang himself. If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency… Of course, it is possible that, when asked, he’ll say Jeffrey is a great guy and has gotten a raw deal and is a victim of political correctness, which is to be outlawed in a Trump regime.”

    Mr. Trump announced his first presidential campaign in June 2015. Wolff later wrote Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, published in 2018.

    Epstein and Mr. Trump were social acquaintances in New York and Florida from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. The President has said he cut ties with Epstein in 2004, long before Epstein’s 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. Mr. Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing.

    Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell was later convicted of conspiring in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation and is serving a 20-year sentence.

    Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said in a statement that the Justice Department should release its full Epstein files “immediately.”

    He added, “The more Donald Trump tries to cover up the Epstein files, the more we uncover. These latest emails and correspondence raise glaring questions about what else the White House is hiding and the nature of the relationship between Epstein and the President.”

    The email release coincides with a broader congressional push for transparency in the Epstein case. Lawmakers are reviewing materials from Epstein’s estate and have sought information from former officials, including past attorneys general and FBI directors. The committee has also questioned Alex Acosta, the former U.S. attorney who oversaw Epstein’s controversial plea deal in Florida and later served as Labor Secretary under Mr. Trump. Acosta resigned in 2019 amid scrutiny over his handling of the Epstein case.

    The House returned to session Wednesday for the first time since mid-September, with Democrats expected to advance a discharge petition to compel the Justice Department to make public its Epstein investigation files. A vote on the measure is not expected until next month.

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    Republican Congressman Calls For Swift Investigation Following Disturbing Office Discovery

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3

    Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) is calling for a full investigation after a disturbing image surfaced showing what appeared to be an altered American flag — twisted into a swastika — displayed behind one of his staffers during a virtual meeting.

    The image, first reported by Politico and amplified on social media by an Ohio blogger, quickly drew outrage. But Taylor’s office says it may not be what it appears.

    “I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office,” Taylor said in a statement. “The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms.”

    Taylor emphasized that he acted immediately, directing Capitol Police to investigate what he described as a potentially malicious act.

    “Upon learning of this matter, I immediately directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police, which remains ongoing,” the statement continued.

    A spokesperson for the congressman suggested the image might have been the result of “foul play or vandalism,” not any endorsement of the offensive imagery by his staff. The photo appeared to show Angelo “AJ” Elia, a legislative correspondent who joined Taylor’s office in January, sitting at his cubicle with the doctored flag visible behind him.

    Elia — who recently earned a master’s degree in legislative affairs from George Washington University — has not commented publicly. Taylor’s office has not said whether any personnel actions have been taken while the investigation proceeds.

    The controversy comes amid renewed scrutiny of conservative youth organizations after Politico reported on leaked Telegram messages allegedly showing racist and anti-Semitic comments from some Young Republican leaders. The timing of the leak, combined with the sudden surfacing of the photo from Taylor’s office, has raised questions among some Republicans about whether politically motivated actors are attempting to smear conservatives ahead of the 2024 election cycle.

    The image was first posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Ohio blogger DJ Byrnes, who claimed a friend had a Zoom meeting with Taylor’s office and noticed the symbol. “A friend in DC had a Zoom call with Congressman Dave Taylor’s office today … Taylor’s legislative correspondent, Angelo Elia, had what can only be described as an American swastika flag prominently displayed in his background,” Byrnes wrote Wednesday.

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