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Schumer says century-old law forces Trump DOJ, FBI to release Jeffrey Epstein files by August deadline
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that Democrats invoked a century-old law to force President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice and the FBI to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.
At a press conference, Schumer said he joined all his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Homeland Security Committee in invoking «a century-old and little-known law known as the Rule of Five.» Under the federal law, Schumer said, «when any five senators on the Homeland Security Committee call on the executive branch, the executive branch must comply.»
Schumer said their request «covers all documents, files, evidence and other materials» in possession of the DOJ and the FBI related to the case of the United States v. Jeffrey Epstein.
«While protecting the victims’ identities can and must be of top importance, the public has a right to know who enabled, knew of, or participated in one of the most heinous sex trafficking operations in history,» Schumer said.
SCHUMER CALLS ON FBI TO CONDUCT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE THREAT ASSESSMENT ON EPSTEIN FILES
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is seeking to force President Donald Trump’s administration to release the Epstein files. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
He pointed to past statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel promising transparency, but argued the public has only received «stonewall, evasion, lies.»
«Donald Trump campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. He broke that promise,» Schumer continued. «Trump should stop hiding from the truth. He should stop hiding from the American people. So today, Senate Democrats took action. We’re invoking federal law and using our authority as a check on the executive to compel transparency.»
«It’s not a stunt. It’s not symbolic. It’s a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law. And we expect an answer from DOJ by August the 15th,» the top Senate Democrat continued. «That’s what accountability looks like. This is what oversight looks like. And this is what keeping your promises to the American people look like.»
He also appealed to Senate Republicans.
«If you believe in transparency, if you believe Congress has a role to play in checking the executive, join us. Join us in calling for more transparency on the Epstein files, because once there’s transparency, the truth emerges,» Schumer said.
The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Schumer initially made the announcement during a speech on the Senate floor earlier Wednesday. The top Democrat argues that he and four other senators can force the Department of Justice to release the files to the public.
JOHNSON SAYS GHISLAINE MAXWELL DESERVES LIFE SENTENCE OVER EPSTEIN CRIMES, REJECTS POTENTIAL PARDON
Wednesday’s floor speech was Schumer’s second in the past few days focusing on the Epstein files. He also called on the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment on the Epstein case on Tuesday.
Democrats have attempted to wield the Epstein case against President Donald Trump’s administration. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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He argued the FBI assessment should accomplish three things: determine if foreign intelligence agencies could gain access to the information «the president does not want to release in the Epstein files, through methods that include cyber intrusion;» identify any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign intelligence agencies with access to non-public information in the Epstein files, «including being able to gain leverage over Donald Trump, his family, or other senior government officials;» and result in the FBI publicly showing that the bureau is «developing mitigation strategies to counter these threats and safeguard our national security.»
chuck schumer,jeffrey epstein,donald trump,politics
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DHS juggles ‘mass deportation’ push with Helene relief, adds $124M after Biden backlash
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The Department of Homeland Security released a second round of August funding for Hurricane Helene relief this week, even as the agency directs increased resources toward President Donald Trump’s «mass deportation» framework.
Secretary Kristi Noem’s latest $28 million allocation formally offered Sunday brings the month’s total to $124 million in funds from FEMA, which sits within DHS, for the deadly Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend and devastated the Smokies.
The funding will go to road repairs and critical infrastructure restoration – which is especially needed in North Carolina and Tennessee.
In that regard, a crucial stretch of Interstate 40 washed into the Pigeon River near that state line — cutting off the lone major trucking route over the mountains, as large vehicles are prohibited on Tail of the Dragon and other regional crossings.
SENATOR PETER WELCH: I’M A DEMOCRAT AND WE NEED TO FIX FEMA WITH LOCAL CONTROL
Devastation from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, 2024. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
FEMA funds have also been allocated to debris removal and «life and property» concerns.
«North Carolina families suffering from this unimaginable tragedy were cruelly ignored by the Biden administration,» Noem deputy Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
«Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, FEMA is moving faster than ever before to get Americans the relief they need. This move to continue supporting North Carolina victims of Hurricane Helene is a testament to that fact.»
Trump lambasted former President Joe Biden’s initial response to Helene, claiming he «didn’t like reports that [he was] getting about the federal government.»
Trump alleged that more conservative areas – of which the western half of North Carolina has many, with the notable exception of Asheville – were wrongly being underserved by the feds.
Biden, however, rejected the claim, cutting off a reporter who asked him about it at the time.
NOEM SAYS CRITICISM OF FEDERAL RESPONSE TO TEXAS FLOODING IS ‘ALL POLITICS’: ‘DISSERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY’
A stretch of eastbound Interstate 40 in Cocke County, Tenn., near the North Carolina line, collapsed into the raging Pigeon River during Hurricane Helene, stymieing regional commerce. (Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News-Sentinel/IMAGN)
«He’s lying, and the governor told him he was lying. I’ve spoken to the governor. I spent time with him and he told me [Trump is] lying. I don’t know why he does this,» said Biden, who had recently spoken with then-North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp around that time.
Republicans also lambasted then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas when he claimed FEMA was running out of funds amid allegations the agency spent large sums on the migrant crisis, according to the New York Post.
However, Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., who represents a swath of storm-ravaged communities, said in a «fact-check» on his congressional website that FEMA did not divert any disaster response to the border or to foreign aid.
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«FEMA’s non-disaster-related presence at the border has always been of major concern to me, even before Hurricane Helene, and I will continue to condemn their deployment of personnel to the southern border, but we must separate the two issues,» Edwards said, while adding that the agency informed him they had enough money for recovery needs.
«Secretary Mayorkas’ statement indicating otherwise was an irresponsible attempt to politicize a tragedy for personal gain,» Edwards said.
Trump later told a campaign rally in Pennsylvania that Biden’s response to Helene was worse than what followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Then-President George W. Bush was memorably lambasted for praising then-FEMA Director Michael Brown’s response – remarking «Brownie, you’re doing a heckuva job,» Bush said while surveying recovery efforts in Mobile.
diversity,drones,donald trump,tennessee,north carolina,homeland security
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María Corina Machado agradeció a Milei haber declarado grupo terrorista al Cartel de los Soles
María Corina Machado, líder política opositora al régimen dictatorial de Nicolás Maduro, agradeció este martes al presidente argentino Javier Milei el decreto que declaró como grupo terrorista al Cartel de los Soles.
Machado, perseguida por la dictadura de Maduro e imposibilitada de presentarse a elecciones, remarcó el compromiso del jefe de estado argentino que se sumó de esta forma a lo actuado por Ecuador y por Paraguay en las últimas semanas. «Querido Presidente Milei, en nombre de los venezolanos le agradezco su firme y decidido apoyo a la causa justa por la Libertad y la democracia de Venezuela, así como el respaldo y cariño del pueblo de la Argentina“, indica el texto publicado en X.
“Nuestro pueblo ha enfrentado con inmensa valentía y dignidad a un régimen criminal narco-terrorista que ha provocado intencionalmente miseria, violencia y la huida de millones de ciudadanos”, subrayó Machado.
La líder política de la oposición venezolana enfatizó además la voluntad de cambio definitivo que atraviesa el pueblo de su país, sumido en una severa crisis humama, social, política y económica. “Hoy tenemos una sociedad unida, organizada y decidida a conquistar su Libertad para traer a nuestros hijos de vuelta a casa”, dijo.
“Sabemos que también contamos con el apoyo de los pueblos hermanos de las Américas y con los genuinos líderes democráticos del mundo. ¡Venezuela será libre!“, concluyó.
El Gobierno argentino declaró organización terrorista al “Cártel de los Soles”, que comandan Maduro y Diosdado Cabello. La administración Milei dispuso esta mañana incluir a ese grupo narcocriminal en el Registro Público de Personas y Entidades vinculadas a Actos de Terrorismo y su Financiamiento (RePET).
La declaración de “organización terrorista”, según informó el Gobierno, responde a los compromisos internacionales asumidos por la República Argentina en materia de prevención y combate al terrorismo. Y se enmarca en la normativa vigente y busca fortalecer la protección del sistema financiero nacional.
La resolución fue adoptada tras una coordinación entre el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, que encabeza Gerardo Werthein y el Ministerio de Seguridad, de Patricia Bullrich.
“Declaramos al Cártel de los Soles como organización terrorista y narcocriminal. Maduro y su séquito son narcoterroristas. Ni en la Argentina ni en ningún lugar del mundo van a poder llevar a cabo sus actividades criminales. Para este Gobierno, el que las hace, las paga. Acá o donde sea”, afirmó Bullrich, en un mensaje publicado en su cuenta de X.
El 14 de agosto, días después de que el Tesoro de los Estados Unidos dispusiera una recompensa de 50 millones de dólares para quien aportara información que lleve a la captura de Maduro, el gobierno de Daniel Noboa designó al Cartel de los Soles como organización terrorista.
La disposición se formalizó mediante un decreto ejecutivo y forma parte del estado de “conflicto armado interno” que el mandatario mantiene desde inicios de 2024.
Con la inclusión del Cartel de los Soles en la lista de organizaciones terroristas de Ecuador, el gobierno de Noboa amplía su ofensiva contra las redes criminales que operan en el país.
La estrategia, respaldada por operativos conjuntos de Policía y Fuerzas Armadas, ha implicado detenciones masivas y la ocupación de territorios considerados bajo control de grupos armados. Las autoridades no han precisado el alcance de la presencia del Cartel de los Soles en Ecuador, pero el CNI deberá presentar un informe con sus hallazgos y coordinar acciones con agencias extranjeras.
Por su parte, días después, fue el gobierno de Santiago Peña en Paraguay el que dispuso una medida similar. El decreto presidencial fue firmado el pasado 22 de agosto. En él, Peña señala: “Desígnase a la organización delictiva transnacional denominada ‘Cartel de los Soles’ como organización terrorista internacional. Refréndese el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores“.
INTERNACIONAL
La hiperlujosa villa de verano de la reina Máxima y el rey Guillermo sobre el Egeo pone incómodos a los holandeses
La casa de la discordia
Intervino el gobierno griego
La heredera holandesa, la princesa Amalia, junto a su mamá. Foto: EFELa isla de Spetses
Máxima sigue de vacaciones
Los reyes con sus tres hijas y su perro Mambo. Foto: EFE
La realeza española asiste al casamiento del príncipe Nicolás de Grecia, en Spetses, en 2010. Foto: Reuters¿Una casa más cerca?
Qué dijo Ariel García Furfaro en su declaración
“Unidos”: Andrés Gil rompió el silencio y habló de su romance con Gimena Accardi
Tras el escándalo, el Gobierno quiere que la ANDIS pase al Ministerio de Salud para controlar las licitaciones
Los funcionarios Lugones y Vilches evitaron dar explicaciones en Diputados por la polémica en el área de Discapacidad
En medio del escándalo por los audios de Spagnuolo, el Gobierno modificará el sistema de contrataciones de la Agencia Nacional de Discapacidad
Tomás Palacios camino al Santos de Vojvoda y Neymar
Chile organizó una colecta para que la familia del hincha que fue operado por fractura de cráneo pueda viajar a la Argentina
Confirmado: Susana Giménez vuelve con un programa de los más esperados
El fuerte cruce entre Victoria Villarruel y Mayra Mendoza por el caso de los audios
