INTERNACIONAL
Melania Trump’s Epstein remarks turn up the heat on DOJ, Acting AG Todd Blanche to do more
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First lady Melania Trump’s call for public hearings for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims is piling fresh pressure on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who only days earlier signaled the administration wanted to move past the saga even as bipartisan lawmakers and survivors continue demanding more files, testimony and prosecutions.
While the first lady called on Congress to take additional steps to let Epstein «survivors» tell their stories, Epstein victims and members of Congress themselves argued that the onus is with the Trump administration, not Congress.
«First Lady asks Congress to bring Epstein survivors in for testimony. With all due respect, that’s Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche’s job!» Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who has been at odds with the president and his administration over how it has handled the Epstein case, said after the first lady’s remarks. «Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and I already gave brave survivors a chance to tell their horrific stories on Capitol Hill. Pam Bondi wouldn’t even acknowledge them. PROSECUTE!»
«Actually, Congress did act,» added Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., in response to the First Lady’s Thursday night remarks calling on Congress to do more. «But Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is violating the law and refusing to release the Epstein files as required by law.»
WHY MELANIA TRUMP IS DENYING ALLEGED SMEARS RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN–AND WANTS VICTIMS TO TESTIFY
President Donald Trump reportedly called the Palm Beach, Florida, Police Department in 2006 to thank them for investigating Jeffrey Epstein. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, in a letter released by over a dozen alleged Epstein victims, survivors also put pressure on the Justice Department to do more.
«First Lady Melania Trump is now shifting the burden onto survivors under politicized conditions that protect those with power: the Department of Justice, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the Trump administration, which has still not fully complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act,» a letter allegedly signed by 15 Epstein victims, posted to social media by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., stated. «It also diverts attention from Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities. Those failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers.»
«Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs,» the letter concluded.
MELANIA TRUMP’S FORCEFUL EPSTEIN DENIAL DRAWS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM LAWMAKERS
Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Justice and White House for comment on the first lady’s remarks and remarks from victims and members of Congress calling on the Trump administration to do more, but did not hear back.
However, in a statement to NPR following the first lady’s remarks, the Department of Justice said: «As we have always stated, we encourage any victims of Jeffrey Epstein — who wish to speak — to contact the FBI. Any survivor who has information on an abuser is encouraged to contact federal law enforcement.»
Not long after taking the reins from former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Blanche insisted it was time for the Justice Department to move on from the Epstein case.
«I think that to the extent that the Epstein files was a part of the past year of this Justice Department, it … should not be a part of anything going forward,» Blanche said Thursday in an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. He added that the DOJ «has now released all the files with respect to the Epstein saga.»
The Justice Department charged three individuals in connection with an alleged scheme to illegally export U.S. AI technology to China, officials said on March 19. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Still, several members of Congress think there is more to be done on the matter.
Following the first lady’s remarks, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., indicated that House Oversight chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., agreed to call four named co-conspirators to testify.
«And they won’t be the only ones,» the congresswoman added in a post on X.
«There are a number of doctors we also have questions for, and the list continues to grow,» the Florida congresswoman continued. «I am calling on the DOJ to prosecute individuals who took plea deals under civil rights violations, and to consider additional charges where appropriate. If you traffic a young girl(s), you don’t get to pretend to be a victim. There is a massive difference.»
First lady Melania Trump (left) pictured next to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche (right). (Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Khanna also demanded the first lady come testify in front of Congress, arguing her remarks show she is privy to «relevant» information, while Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said following the first lady’s Thursday night remarks that he and his colleagues still want to see Bondi testify to Congress.
«Pam Bondi knows more about this cover-up and why the botched release of the files happened the way they did in doxxing survivors and putting their information out there, not protecting their identities. Pam Bondi must testify, that is her legal obligation.»
«I think there’s enough Republicans that also agree — she has been subpoenaed — they had a legal subpoena,» Garcia told CNN. «The DOJ and Todd Blanche continue to cover up for Donald Trump, continue to want this to go away, but we are going to continue to push every single day.»
justice department, jeffrey epstein, melania trump, congress, white house, pam bondi, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Platner campaign putting ‘thumb on scale’ to influence possible replacement, Maine Dem alleges
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The Maine Democratic Party issued a stern warning to U.S. Senate primary winner Graham Platner, telling him and his campaign that they have «no role» in choosing his replacement.
Platner has not yet withdrawn from the race, and is still the state’s Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate, despite mounting pressure from state and national Democrats to drop out after a woman who previously dated him accused him of sexual assault in a Politico report published Monday. Platner has denied the allegations, but said he is looking at «the best path forward,» as he understood the political fallout the accusation would create.
«The Maine Democratic Party has been working around the clock to develop a process to replace our U.S. Senate nominee that is open, inclusive, transparent, and fair,» state party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a video posted to X amid myriad newly surfaced allegations levied against Platner with less than a week before the deadline to lock in the candidate to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
«The integrity of this process is just as important as the outcome, and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across our state can have confidence in both,» Murphy-Anderson continued. «Unfortunately, Graham Platner’s team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like. We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like.»
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF PLATNER DROPS OUT? HERE’S WHO COULD REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT AND HOW IT WOULD WORK
Graham Platner won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, celebrating his victory at the YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9, and just one month later the state Democratic Party is forcing him out and having no say in who the nominee will be. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Amid the fight with the Maine party leaders, an official for the Platner campaign said it «has reached out to the party to try and understand what this process would look like» and «at no point has the campaign tried to ‘put its finger on the scale.’»
The official added that thousands of Maine residents voted and volunteered for Platner and they should play a role in the decision.
«While Graham wouldn’t want to be a part of the process, he would want to make sure the voters and volunteers make this decision — not the political establishment,» the statement said.
GRAHAM PLATNER’S CHANCES OF DROPPING OUT SKYROCKET TO 94% AFTER PARTY REVOLT: KALSHI
Wife Amy Gertner has stood by her man Graham Platner amid myriad allegations of extramarital affairs and sexual misconduct. (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Fox News Digital has made multiple attempts to reach out to Platner’s campaign for further comment, and also reached out to the Maine Democratic Party.
EXPLOSIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATION ROCKS PLATNER CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF KEY DEADLINE IN CRUCIAL SENATE RACE
Graham Platner has thus far been defiant and refusing to drop out without conditions, saying the Maine voters have picked him to be their nominee, ‘not the party establishment.’ (Matt Symons for Fox News Digital)
Maine Democratic Party leaders called on Platner to withdraw Monday, saying «multiple women have made serious, credible allegations against Graham Platner» and that the party «stands with women and survivors.» The party noted that no replacement process can begin unless Platner suspends his campaig, while stating that «in no scenario is there a legal possibility for a nominee to be selected by an individual campaign.»
«The sooner this process can begin, the more time we will have to administer an intentional and inclusive process for Mainers and Democrats,» the party said.
«We are entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner,» the party said. «That responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances demand it.»
The timing is critical. According to the Maine Democratic Party, the deadline set by the secretary of state for a nominee to withdraw is July 13, and the deadline for a new nominee to be submitted is July 27. If Platner does not withdraw by the July 13 deadline, Democrats would not have the option to name a replacement.
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Names of potential replacements floated in media reports include former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah, the former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The race is one of Democrats’ top pickup opportunities as they seek to defeat Collins, a five-term Republican incumbent, and regain control of the Senate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
graham platner, democrats senate, politics, state and local primaries, maine
INTERNACIONAL
Uruguay prepara una jubilación anticipada a los 60 años pero define una limitación al beneficio
El gobierno de Yamandú Orsi en Uruguay redacta un proyecto de ley para establecer una causal jubilatoria especial a los 60 años de edad, que está pensada para quienes tienen dificultades para llegar a los 65 años trabajando, el mínimo requerido para el retiro. Sin embargo, el acceso cinco años antes tendrá algunas limitaciones.
El gobierno de Orsi asumió con la promesa de convocar a un “diálogo social” para hacer modificaciones a la reforma jubilatoria realizada por la gestión de Luis Lacalle Pou, que extendió la edad de retiro desde los 60 a los 65 años. Una de las innovaciones que incluyó el proyecto de ley es la posibilidad de jubilarse pero retornar al mercado laboral.
El “diálogo social”, una instancia que terminó en abril, sugirió habilitar una causal jubilatoria a los 60 años. Y ahora el gobierno incorporará esta propuesta en un proyecto de ley, pero asegura que no comprometerá la sostenibilidad financiera del sistema.
Esta causal tendrá algunas restricciones. Por ejemplo, quienes se jubilen a los 60 años no podrán acceder al beneficio de volver al mercado laboral del manera formal una vez concretada la jubilación.
“Uno de los principios rectores con el que nosotros avanzamos con esta idea era la necesidad de que esto fuera sostenible y sustentable a lo largo del tiempo”, declaró este martes el noticiero Telemundo de Canal 12 el coordinador de ese “diálogo social”, Hugo Bai.
El funcionario explicó por qué se estableció esta restricción: “Lo que aquí se está haciendo es agregar una causal de retiro anticipado que naturalmente es una causal para aquellas personas que efectivamente enfrentan alguna contingencia por la cual no pueden seguir trabajando”.
“Hasta los 65 años, no sería compatible no sería compatible con la actividad, con mantenerse trabajando” agregó
Bai destacó que un tercio de la población podrá acceder a los 60 años a una jubilación mayor que la que hubiera tenido con el régimen anterior a la última reforma jubilatoria.
Se prevé que este proyecto de ley sea enviado en agosto al Parlamento.
Otra de las propuestas del “diálogo social” son cambios en los fondos de pensiones. Sin embargo, esta propuesta continúa siendo discutida.
Cuando se conoció la propuesta fue uno de los cambios más comentados: quitarle una parte del negocio a los fondos privados de pensiones.
Desde antes que se conociera el documento final, los cambios en las AFAP habían generado polémica, al punto que analistas privados, empresarios y la oposición habían alertado por una “estatización” de este régimen de ahorro individual. ¿Qué es lo que propone en concreto? Que los fondos privados de pensiones continúen gestionando las inversiones que reciben de los trabajadores, pero que dejen de tener contacto con el cliente.
El ministro de Economía, Gabriel Oddone, se reunió en mayo con los representantes de las AFAP para “coordinar una agenda de trabajo”, según la información oficial. Esto incluye abrir un período de 60 días para trabajar con las AFAP y ver si se puede incorporar alguna de las ideas que sus ejecutivos llevaron a la reunión. Ese plazo está en su límite y funcionó de forma reservada.
“Las conversaciones van a girar en una agenda que acordamos, en un esquema de trabajo que va a organizarse de manera semanal y que va a transcurrir durante 60 días”, dijo Oddone en una declaración al final del encuentro en la que no aceptó preguntas. Este ámbito funcionará de manera reservada.
En Uruguay, hay cuatro AFAP que gestionan en régimen de ahorro individual. Una de ellas –la que tiene más clientes– es República AFAP, y sus accionistas son estatales (el Banco República, el Banco de Seguros del Estado y el Banco de Previsión Social). Las otras, son privadas: Itaú AFAP, AFAP Sura e Integración AFAP.
orsi yamandu
US envoy: Stop funding UNRWA, back Board of Peace for Gaza
Speaking at the U.N. July 1, Ambassador Jeff Bartos said donors could continue supporting United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugee or choose a framework offering Gazans «peace, prosperity and real durable change.» (Credit: UNTV)
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The United Nations defended its appeal for countries to keep funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after the United States argued that donors should stop supporting an agency it claims has been infiltrated by Hamas and instead direct its money toward the Security Council-backed Board of Peace.
Speaking at UNRWA’s annual pledging conference in early July, U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos accused member states of repeating a failed approach and said the agency had become a «subsidiary of Hamas.»
«Doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result is the definition of insanity,» Bartos said. «And yet, here we are again, another annual pledging conference for UNRWA. Same speeches … same condemnation of Israel, same failures to condemn Hamas.»
HAMAS SAYS IT WILL DISSOLVE GAZA GOVERNMENT, BUT ISRAEL WARNS GROUP STILL SEEKS HEZBOLLAH-STYLE CONTROL
UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza City, Gaza, Feb. 21, 2024. (Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Bartos urged governments to stop funding UNRWA schools in Gaza, which he accused of indoctrinating children in hatred of Jews and glorifying terrorism. He also cited allegations that UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel.
«You can choose to fund incitement, terrorism and stagnation, or you can choose to fund the Board of Peace, giving Gazans a path to peace, prosperity and real, durable change,» Bartos said.
The Board of Peace is a U.S.-led body created under President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan to oversee transitional governance, reconstruction and long-term development alongside a Palestinian technocratic administration. The administration argues it offers a better alternative to UNRWA by shifting aid away from what it says is a Hamas-infiltrated system and toward accountable governance and economic recovery.
Asked by Fox News Digital why U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres was asking countries to put additional money into UNRWA rather than support the Board of Peace, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric defended the agency’s record and mandate.
ISRAEL SLAMS UN REPORT AS ‘POLITICAL BLOOD LIBEL’ FOR ALLEGING DELIBERATE TARGETING OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN
A Palestinian woman wears a green Hamas scarf attends a demonstration against a U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) funding gap, outside the UNRWA Gaza Headquarters in Gaza City, Aug. 16, 2015. (The Associated Press)
Dujarric said Wednesday that UNRWA officials, including former Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and acting chief Christian Saunders, had taken «strong action» when presented with facts concerning possible infiltration by people aligned with terrorist organizations.
«UNRWA doesn’t operate through a sort of immaculate conception,» Dujarric said in a press briefing. «It is there because there is a mandate given to it by the General Assembly, and we continue to fulfill that mandate. It has a very important role to play on the humanitarian front.»
Dujarric added that the Security Council resolution supporting the Board of Peace also calls on the United Nations to deliver humanitarian assistance and lead humanitarian activities in Gaza.
«UNRWA is part of that system,» he said.
The U.S. position contrasted sharply with those of several European governments.
At the same pledging event, the United Kingdom announced £23 million in support for UNRWA.
British Ambassador James Kariuki called the agency «indispensable» to providing essential services to Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
France also reiterated what its representative described as «full support» for the agency, saying UNRWA continues to provide indispensable assistance despite growing obstacles. France said it had provided €123 million to UNRWA since 2023 and would announce its 2026 contribution soon.
INTERNATIONAL ‘DEEP STATE’ PRIME TARGET OF TRUMP-STYLE CANDIDATE FOR UN CHIEF
A Palestinian man collects food from a humanitarian aid distribution point in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, July 20, 2025. (Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The French representative said allegations against UNRWA had been taken seriously and argued that the agency was implementing recommendations from the Colonna review intended to strengthen neutrality and transparency. France also supported an eventual, gradual transfer of UNRWA’s responsibilities to reform and strengthen Palestinian institutions as part of a broader political settlement.
The funding dispute comes as UN Watch is demanding that Guterres waive any immunity enjoyed by Lazzarini, whose term has ended, so national authorities can investigate allegations that he ignored repeated warnings about Hamas infiltration.
In a June 30 letter, the Geneva-based watchdog claimed that it had provided Lazzarini and his administration with evidence involving teachers, school principals, union leaders and other employees who allegedly supported or were affiliated with Hamas and other terrorist groups. It argued that the claims create grounds for an independent criminal investigation.
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, told Fox News Digital that his organization told Lazzarini «that there are supporters of terrorism — in some cases, actual members of Hamas — working as teachers, working as school principals,» Neuer said, «Not one bad apple, not a few rotten apples, but the problem of support for terrorism … was systematic.»
Neuer said waiving Lazzarini’s immunity would not amount to a finding of guilt but would allow prosecutors to test the evidence.
«The investigation may prove there’s no evidence, and it’s over,» Neuer said. «But at least you should waive immunity to allow an investigation. The U.N. said that if anyone was found involved, ‘we will cooperate.’ Now is the test.»
Asked whether Guterres would consider waiving Lazzarini’s immunity, Dujarric did not answer directly.
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Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), holds a press conference in Jerusalem on October 27, 2023. (Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«As far as I know, UN Watch is not a judicial authority,» he said. «We have always, as a matter of principle, cooperated with investigations by national authorities.»
UN Watch’s letter argues that immunity exists to protect the interests of the United Nations rather than provide a personal benefit to an official, and that it should be waived where it would obstruct justice without harming the organization.
Fox News Digital contacted UNRWA for comment but did not receive a response.
anti semitism, united nations, hamas, middle east
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