This is C.I.'s "The Snapshot:"
STEPHEN FOWLER, BYLINE: Hello.
KEITH: There were a number of developments in the long-running Epstein files story this week. And Stephen, I want to start with your latest reporting on files that were missing or redacted from the original public release. Some of those files have now been posted by the Justice Department. What do they have in them?
FOWLER: Just to recap, we found that there were 53 pages that appeared to be missing from that public Epstein files database. They all related to an allegation that President Trump sexually abused a minor in the early 1980s. There was a mention of this explicit allegation found in a Justice Department PowerPoint from last year that was in the files and also an FBI email kind of recapping all of the claims made about Trump, but we couldn't find it anywhere else in these files. Looking at some of the other documents, we were able to find that the FBI interviewed this woman as an adult in 2019 four separate times. Only one of those interviews was initially published in the Epstein files, and it didn't mention Trump at all.
Now, we do have some of those files, 16 pages covering three other interviews, plus a two-page sheet detailing the initial tip that was called in. These interviews do go into more explicit detail about what Trump was alleged to have done to her when she was a teenager, forcing her head down onto his penis. She allegedly bit it. He said foul words and hit her head. There's also an interview, which was the final one in 2019, and this woman was asked whether she, quote, "felt comfortable" detailing her contacts with Trump, and she reportedly asked, quote, "what the point would be of providing this information at this point in her life when there was a strong possibility nothing could be done about it." And remember, these interviews took place during Trump's first term in office.
KEITH: Stephen, how is the White House responding to this?
FOWLER: We should also note here that Trump denies any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has not been charged with a crime. The White House has repeatedly said that Trump is, quote, "totally exonerated" by the Epstein files. The latest statement from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says that these are completely baseless accusations, backed by zero credible evidence. They also point on background to two different articles that claim to discredit the woman's accusations, but we haven't verified those things. In fact, Tam, looking at the release of these documents, it doesn't actually shine any more light on how credible federal investigators viewed these claims or how they were resolved, or why these allegations were included in the Justice Department slide presentation summarizing the cases against Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
KEITH: But there are still records that haven't been released. What has the government said about the delays in the release?
FOWLER: It's been a shifting story. I mean, back when the Epstein files were released on January 30, the Justice Department said they were all done in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act law Congress passed. When we asked specifically about these documents, the Justice Department would not comment on them directly and said anything that might've been withheld was because of privilege, or they were duplicates, or they were part of an ongoing federal investigation. After more people reported on the documents and there was more of a public backlash, the story changed again. The Justice Department said they were reviewing to see if anything was accidentally mistakenly tagged as duplicate, and if they found something, of course, they would publish it.
So fast-forward to Thursday night, where there were a thousand new pages uploaded, including some documents that it discovered were, quote, "incorrectly coded as duplicative" and a few more documents related to prosecution memos that the Southern District of Florida determined could be published while protecting privileged materials. That said, we still know based on looking at the serial numbers stamped onto these documents and the logs of files turned over to Ghislaine Maxwell's attorney in her case, that there are still 37 pages, at least, that still haven't been published.
KEITH: Domenico, this is a story that is just not going away for the administration, and it comes when they have all kinds of other issues related to their base and possible disillusionment with respect to the war with Iran. You know, it's one thing to be fighting a messaging battle on one front, but this is now two fronts that they're on. Where do you see this going?
MONTANARO: Well, certainly, this isn't going to go away anytime soon. You know, it's going to continue to be a thorn in the Trump administration's side. I mean, Trump would very much like this to go away, but there are a lot of people on both sides of the aisle who don't want that to be the case, and it's not necessarily because they're targeting Trump. You know, there are lots of men with power and influence who are named in these files, many of whom have not faced any consequences whatsoever. You have lots of victims who are continuing to speak out and are trying to make sure this story doesn't go away.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Last week, an NPR investigation revealed some Epstein files related to President Trump were being withheld from the public. They related to an allegation that Trump sexually abused a minor in the 1980s. Now some of those documents have been published, and they raise new questions. And a warning, we want to let you know the story does include a description of sexual abuse. NPR's Stephen Fowler is here with an update. Hi, Stephen.
STEPHEN FOWLER, BYLINE: Hey there.
DETROW: Let's start with this - remind us how we knew there were documents missing and that they mentioned the president.
FOWLER: Well, in the millions of Epstein files that were released, there was this PowerPoint slide and an email from the FBI that talked about a claim that Trump sexually abused a minor four decades ago, but there was no other mention of where it came from, what investigators did about it, or why it made it into this roundup about the Epstein case. NPR was the first to piece together other records in the files to discover the FBI interviewed this woman four times in 2019. Only one interview was made public, and there was no mention of the abuse claim.
DETROW: OK, so that was the initial reporting. We have now gone from documents that were missing to the Justice Department publishing some of them yesterday.
FOWLER: Well, at first, the Justice Department would not directly comment about these documents. They said that, generally speaking, they wouldn't publish anything that included privileged information, duplicates or documents that were related to an ongoing federal investigation. The House Oversight Committee had some members ask the attorney general to answer if there was an ongoing investigation. They noted that there was nothing that appeared to be privileged related to these interviews and pointed out that you can't have duplicates of something that doesn't exist. So then the Justice Department said they were checking to see if something was mistakenly flagged as a duplicate, and if it was, they'd publish it, which they did Thursday night, along with 1,000-plus other pages that were flagged.
DETROW: And ever since then, you have had a chance to read through these interviews. What do they tell us about the allegation against President Trump?
FOWLER: An adult woman in 2019 gave graphic details during interviews with the FBI about what she said Trump did when she was a teenager, mainly that he forced her to perform oral sex and then he reacted angrily when she bit him. In the fourth and final interview, she reportedly asked the agents, quote, "what the point would be of providing the information at this point in her life," because she said, "there was a strong possibility nothing could be done about it."
DETROW: Are there any indications whether investigators viewed this as a credible allegation?
FOWLER: We don't know. We know that Trump has not faced criminal charges from this claim. We don't know ultimately how this was addressed or resolved. We also don't know why this allegation was included in the Justice Department's slide deck presentation last year that gave an overview of the cases against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his accomplice. And the new release of materials is 16 pages, meaning there are at least 37 more pages related to these claims that still are not published.
Documents detailing FBI interviews with a Jeffrey Epstein victim who accused President Donald Trump of sexually abusing her when she was 13 are being kept under wraps.
More than three dozen pages remain missing, according to an NPR analysis, including “files related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor.”
The Department of Justice, which has slow-walked its legally-mandated release of the Epstein files, published 16 pages regarding the accuser last week. However, 37 pages, including notes from the interviews, a law enforcement report, and license records, are still classified.
Waves of airstrikes shook Beirut and Tehran on Wednesday and into Thursday morning, adding to the toll of the war in the Middle East, as the Pentagon told Congress that the U.S. cost of the war was more than $11.3 billion in just the first six days.
The dollar figure, disclosed in a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill, did not include many of the expenses associated with the operation, now in its 12th day, so the ultimate cost for American taxpayers is expected to be much higher. The briefing was described by three people familiar with it, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.
The Middle East war showed no sign of letup on multiple fronts.
Senate Republicans once again block Murray’s bill to fund everything at DHS but ICE and Border Patrol, as they drag their feet on common-sense reforms to protect Americans from violence at the hands of ICE
Murray: “Democrats are not going to write a blank check for rogue agencies that are trampling on the rights of Americans. Nor are we going to accept the premise that the only way to fund TSA or disaster relief is by giving money to ICE. That’s absurd.”
Murray: “Here’s the simple truth: if Republicans agreed to simple reforms, all of DHS could be funded tomorrow. And if Republicans stopped blocking the bill I just offered, TSA could be funded today.”
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor remarks***
Washington, D.C. — Senate Republicans once again blocked straightforward legislation to fund every agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Office of the Secretary. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to slam Republicans for dragging their feet in ongoing negotiations over common-sense reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.
Senator Murray sought unanimous consent to pass her legislation to fund DHS agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other important DHS functions while talks on ICE and CBP proceed.
Yet again, Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) blocked Senator Murray’s request to pass the legislation.
While negotiations on ICE and CBP proceed, Senator Murray’s bill:
- Funds FEMA, TSA, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, CISA, and other important DHS components.
- Excludes funding for ICE, CBP, and the Office of the Secretary.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“M. President, it’s extremely frustrating to me that despite all their talk about how important it is we fund TSA, and FEMA, and CISA, and more—and despite Republicans’ own acknowledgement that they already funded ICE and Border Patrol with their big reconciliation, I call it the big ugly bill, from last summer—now Republicans are unwilling to work with us to fund some of these programs that keep Americans safe, while we keep trying to get somewhere on ICE and Border Patrol accountability.
“Worse than that—they are acting like they have no idea why Democrats
are not willing to accept the premise that to fund TSA, we have to cut
some blank check for ICE.
“Republicans are acting like they
didn’t see the same awful footage of Renee Good and Alex Pretti getting
shot in cold blood. Republicans are acting like they don’t remember that
little boy in the bunny hat arrested like some violent criminal.
Republicans are acting like they don’t remember the family that got tear
gassed on the way back from a basketball game, or the American citizen
marched out of his house, in the freezing cold, in his underwear.
“As a reminder because apparently Republicans need it: The Senate has had at least two hearings on this since Alex Pretti was murdered by CBP officers. And with a couple of exceptions, we have not heard any Republicans in those hearings suggest they want to work with us on reforming the agencies and reining in DHS.
“And yet, some Republicans, are acting like they have no idea why we are demanding things like body cameras, visible identification, adequate training standards, and basic standards, as the senator just spoke about—same as our local police—on things like use of force and requiring warrants before some agents smashes in your door and drags someone away.
“Republicans know exactly what Democrats have been asking for, because weeks ago, Democrats provided Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune a list of ten critical reforms needed to pass the Homeland Security bill.
“Unfortunately, Republicans have been saying no on many of these items—as far back as last year. Or in some cases, first, they would say ‘Sure we’ll work with you,’ and then Stephen Miller and the White House would get involved and Republicans would say, ‘never mind!’
“Last year—Democrats were already talking about many of the reforms we are talking about today. In July, some of us introduced a bill calling for no masks and for clear identification.
“And then we saw federal agents shoot citizens and lie about it, like in the case of Marimar Martinez. And we heard horror stories of masked agents dragging away American citizens for no reason.
“One American citizen was dragged off and detained twice. Not charged with any crime. Not arrested with a warrant. Just picked off his worksite—until ICE realized he was a citizen. That happened twice to the same guy!
“That’s exactly why Democrats had been saying—let’s take off the masks, we cannot have unaccountable agents. But Republicans said no to that idea.
“And then the world watched, as Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent, and denied any medical care—something even the most basic training—to say nothing of morals—should have told officers was wrong.
“So, Democrats pushed in our DHS funding negotiations, we said—this is exactly the kind of thing we are gravely concerned about. We need serious reforms and accountability. Still, Republicans said no.
“Then an innocent man, an American citizen, was dragged out of his home in the freezing cold in his underwear. Agents refused to even look at his ID which showed—they had completely the wrong guy. And yet when Democrats pushed to require real judicial warrants, Republicans said no.
“A little boy in bunny ears was ripped away from his home for absolutely no reason, Republicans said no.
“A family on their way home from a basketball game was tear gassed. Republicans said no.
“A woman on the way to a doctor’s appointment had her window smashed—she was dragged out of her car, Republicans said no.
“And Alex Pretti was tackled to the ground and shot in the back several times by federal agents—another completely unjustified killing. A murder of an American citizen. And the Trump Administration tried to slander him as a terrorist!
“For a moment, even some Republicans said that was concerning, that was unacceptable, that was wrong. But we all know what’s ultimately happened: Republicans have, for weeks now, refused some pretty basic steps to make these agencies accountable. Once again—Republicans have said no.
“Well—the American people are not going to take ‘no’ for an answer.
“Stephen Miller is not above the Constitution. Donald Trump is not a king who can just sic an army of masked thugs on whatever city he wants to punish next.
“And Democrats are not going to write a blank check for rogue agencies that are trampling on the rights of Americans. Nor are we going to accept the premise that the only way to fund TSA or disaster relief is by giving money to ICE. That’s absurd.
“Now, some on the other side are claiming that the bill I just offered would defund Customs—or Homeland Security Investigations. M. President, that too is absurd.
“All the bill I just offered does is fund the rest of DHS while talks continue on ICE and Border Patrol—and the simple fact is Republicans have already funded these agencies when they gave them more money, than most militaries by the way, in their Big Ugly Bill.
“And Republicans’ latest tactic—trying to use a war as leverage against accountability for Americans is just plain wrong. It’s cynical and it is utterly transparent.
“We are not going to give Trump a pass on citizens getting shot and killed here in America, just because he singlehandedly chose to start a war that has led to Americans being killed across the globe as well.
“Who in the world thought that argument would fly? Did Stephen Miller tell Republicans two wrongs make a right here? Did you think that was going to convince anybody?
“Look—we are going to hold Trump accountable for his reckless war, and we are going to hold him accountable for using ICE to terrorize American cities.
“As for the rest of DHS that does important work to keep Americans safe like FEMA, Coast Guard, TSA, Democrats are here, we are trying to fund those agencies—while ICE and Border Patrol negotiations continue. But, Republicans will neither agree to the reforms we need to rein in ICE and protect Americans nor fund the rest of DHS while those talks continue.
“Here’s the simple truth: if Republicans agreed to simple reforms, all of DHS could be funded tomorrow. And if Republicans stopped blocking the bill that I just offered, TSA could be funded today.
“But Republicans don’t want to take serious action to prevent rogue government agencies from gunning down American citizens, we just heard that on the floor from several Republican senators who spoke. They don’t want to take new steps to make sure masked federal agents don’t kidnap people off the street. They don’t want to pass legislation to make sure federal agents only target people who they have a judicial warrant for—instead of breaking down windows and dragging away completely innocent people. That is the crux of the problem right now.
“Let me state that again: the problem right now is not a lack of communication between both the sides—that’s absurd—the problem is a lack of willingness on the part of Republicans to pass some pretty basic reforms—or to even fund the rest of DHS while talks continue.
“Republicans don’t want to protect Americans from rogue ICE agents. You know how I know that? Just listen to what they said—and what they didn’t say—right here on the floor.
“Are Republicans talking about the fact American citizens have been gunned down by ICE and Border Patrol? Are Republicans talking about the fact that peaceful protesters are being tear gassed, or pepper sprayed, or tackled to the ground?
“Not a word about that right here.If Republicans cannot talk about the obvious, blatant abuse we have all see from ICE and Border Patrol, how do they expect to work with us to address that? The answer is they don’t.
“Instead, they are pretending this is about FEMA—which I’ve offered to fund, or TSA—which I’ve offered to fund, or CISA—which I’ve offered to fund, and they are pretending this is about ICE funds running low—even after Republicans spent weeks acknowledging the agency has plenty of funding left from their Big Ugly Bill.
“What this debate actually is about is accountability. It is long past time Republicans get serious about that.”
###
No comments:
Post a Comment