4 h. ago Trump requests release of Epstein court documents but says ‘nothing will be enough for the troublemakers’ – as it happened

This liveblog is now closedAs Donald Trump tries to claim he was “not a fan” of Jeffrey Epstein, photos, videos and anecdotes paint a picture of their relationship, writes Adam Gabbatt:Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has called for Barack Obama and former senior US national security officials to be prosecuted after accusing them of a “treasonous conspiracy” intended to show that Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election win was due to Russian interference. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago Trump requests release of Epstein court documents but says ‘nothing will be enough for the troublemakers’ – US politics live

Move seeks to quell controversy that has engulfed the administration since it said it would not release more files from Epstein’s sex trafficking caseAs Donald Trump tries to claim he was “not a fan” of Jeffrey Epstein, photos, videos and anecdotes paint a picture of their relationship, writes Adam Gabbatt:Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has called for Barack Obama and former senior US national security officials to be prosecuted after accusing them of a “treasonous conspiracy” intended to show that Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election win was due to Russian interference. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Trump live: Democrats reiterate calls for release of Epstein files after Trump promises ‘pertinent’ documents

A new Wall Street Journal report claims Donald Trump penned a lewd letter to Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday, and now the president is suing the publication

Politics

21 h. ago Trump wants the Epstein grand jury transcripts released. That’s a tiny portion of the files his administration has on the case

‘This is Donald Trump’s effort to gaslight you into thinking they’re turning over the Epstein files, when in reality, they’re turning over nothing that is relevant to what everybody deserves to know’ one lawmaker slammed

Politics

24 h. ago Pam Bondi files motions to release secret Epstein and Maxwell grand jury testimony in desperate move to appease Trump

The Attorney General finally gave into the pressure on Thursday night.

Politics

24 h. ago Trump asks court to unseal Epstein grand jury testimony but still won’t release files at center of uproar: Live updates

President Donald Trump allegedly penned a lewd letter to Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday, a new report claims

Politics

26 h. ago Trump administration dumps huge tranche of Obama documents while world waits for Epstein files: Live updates

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified hundreds of Russia hoax documents on Friday as the world is watching for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Politics

26 h. ago Democrats say ‘public deserves to know’ if Stephen Colbert cancellation linked to Trump

Democrats are questioning timing of CBS cancellation of The Late Show days after Colbert criticized parent company Paramount for settling with TrumpTrump launches fresh defense of inaction in Epstein case following report he sent birthday letterIt was a friendship that spanned three different decades. To Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein was a “terrific guy”. Epstein believed himself to be Trump’s “closest friend”, and praised the future president as “charming”.The relationship would eventually break down, the men falling out over a bidding war on a property in Florida. And after Epstein was convicted of child sex offences in 2008, Trump distanced himself from the financier, claiming he was “not a fan” and wondering, in recent days, why his supporters would “waste time and energy” on demanding that FBI and Department of Justice files on Epstein be released. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Trump launches fresh defense of inaction in Epstein case following report he sent birthday letter

Trump has been under scrutiny from his base after his administration said it would not be releasing any further Epstein documentsUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump on Friday morning launched a fresh defense of his conduct in the Jeffrey Epstein case after the scandal deepened on Thursday following a Wall Street Journal report that he’d written the sex offender a bawdy note with a sketch of a naked woman.“If there was a ‘smoking gun’ on Epstein, why didn’t the Dems, who controlled the ‘files’ for four years, and had Garland and Comey in charge, use it? BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING!!!” Trump said in a Truth Social post early on Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Trump on defensive over Epstein case following report he sent ‘bawdy’ letter

Trump has been under scrutiny from his base over failure to release further Epstein documentsUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump on Friday morning launched a fresh defense of his conduct in the Jeffrey Epstein case after the scandal deepened on Thursday following a Wall Street Journal report that he had written the sex offender a bawdy note with a sketch of a naked woman.“If there was a ‘smoking gun’ on Epstein, why didn’t the Dems, who controlled the ‘files’ for four years, and had Garland and Comey in charge, use it? BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING!!!” Trump said in a Truth Social post early on Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Trump again tries to brush off Epstein crisis as ‘nothing’, blaming Democrats for controversy – US politics live

President’s latest effort to contain fallout comes after he directs Pam Bondi to request release of grand jury transcripts and threatens to sue Wall Street JournalTrump requests release of Epstein grand jury transcripts amid report of ‘bawdy’ birthday noteIt was a friendship that spanned three different decades. To Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein was a “terrific guy”. Epstein believed himself to be Trump’s “closest friend”, and praised the future president as “charming”.The relationship would eventually break down, the men falling out over a bidding war on a property in Florida. And after Epstein was convicted of child sex offences in 2008, Trump distanced himself from the financier, claiming he was “not a fan” and wondering, in recent days, why his supporters would “waste time and energy” on demanding that FBI and Department of Justice files on Epstein be released. Continue reading...

Politics

33 h. ago Gavin Newsom says Alcatraz will reopen the ‘same day Trump releases the Epstein files’

A spokesperson dismissed the idea previously touted by the president, following a visit to the island by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday

Politics

34 h. ago Trump says there’s no ‘smoking gun’ linking him to Epstein files as Bondi seeks document release: Live updates

President Donald Trump allegedly penned a lewd letter to Jeffrey Epstein on his 50th birthday, a new report claims

Politics

35 h. ago ‘He’s a lot of fun to be with’: Trump and Epstein were close friends for 15 years

As Trump tries to claim he was ‘not a fan’ of Epstein, photos, videos and anecdotes paint a picture of a their relationshipIt was a friendship that spanned three different decades. To Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein was a “terrific guy”. Epstein believed himself to be Trump’s “closest friend”, and praised the future president as “charming”.The relationship would eventually break down, the men falling out over a bidding war on a property in Florida. And after Epstein was convicted of child sex offences in 2008, Trump distanced himself from the financier, claiming he was “not a fan” and wondering, in recent days, why his supporters would “waste time and energy” on demanding that FBI and Department of Justice files on Epstein be released. Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago Listen up, weaklings: there’s no Epstein client list – and definitely no cover

It’s the bonfire of the Maga hats. The real mystery is where their wearers got the idea of a paedophile conspiracy from in the first placeYou have to feel for Donald Trump’s Maga base. The one huge secret they didn’t want disclosed was that he actually really hates them. All populists despise their people, obviously – but please, Mr President, respect the playbook! You’re supposed to do it quietly. Regrettably, no one could accuse Trump of hiding his spite under a bushel after a week in which he described those of his supporters who want him to simply do what he repeatedly promised, and release the so-called Epstein files, as “weaklings” and “stupid people”. This is quite the (public) volte face from the guy who originally swept to office declaring “I love the poorly educated”.Most of you are unlikely to need a recap at this stage, but Jeffrey Epstein is the sex-trafficking financier and socialite, who conveniently died in jail while awaiting trial, apparently by suicide. A woman, G...

Politics

36 h. ago Listen up, weaklings: there’s no Epstein client list. Why are you so obsessed? Yours, Donald J Trump | Marina Hyde

It’s the bonfire of the Maga hats. The real mystery is where their wearers got the idea of a paedophile conspiracy from in the first placeYou have to feel for Donald Trump’s Maga base. The one huge secret they didn’t want disclosed was that he actually really hates them. All populists despise their people, obviously – but please, Mr President, respect the playbook! You’re supposed to do it quietly. Regrettably, no one could accuse Trump of hiding his spite under a bushel after a week in which he described those of his supporters who want him to simply do what he repeatedly promised, and release the so-called Epstein files, as “weaklings” and “stupid people”. This is quite the (public) volte face from the guy who originally swept to office declaring “I love the poorly educated”.Most of you are unlikely to need a recap at this stage, but Jeffrey Epstein is the sex-trafficking financier and socialite, who conveniently died in jail while awaiting trial, apparently by suicide. A woman, G...

Politics

43 h. ago Trump directs attorney general Pam Bondi to seek release of Epstein grand jury testimony – US politics live

Bondi replies to president’s Truth Social post to say she is ‘ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts’Trump supporters burn Maga hats after he dismisses Epstein files furorDonald Trump has lashed out against his own supporters, calling them gullible “weaklings” for questioning the transparency of a secretive government inquiry into the late high-profile socialite and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The US president is struggling to contain a political crisis within his usually loyal Make America Great Again (Maga) base over suspicion that the administration is hiding details of Epstein’s crimes to protect the rich elite Epstein associated with, which included Trump. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Trump requests release of Epstein grand jury transcripts amid report of ‘bawdy’ birthday note

President directs Pam Bondi to seek release of testimony from sex-trafficking case and threatens to sue Wall Street JournalDonald Trump said on Thursday he had directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking case as he sought to tamp down controversy over a story that he allegedly contributed a sketch of a naked woman to Epstein’s 50th birthday album.The president said on Truth Social he had authorized the justice department to seek the public release of the materials, which are under seal, citing “the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein”. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Trump directs ‘pertinent’ Epstein files released after his threats to sue over bombshell report: Live updates

A letter sent to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday was apparently penned by President Donald Trump, a new report claims

Events

45 h. ago Trump directs attorney general Pam Bondi to release Epstein grand jury testimony – US politics live

Bondi replies to president’s Truth Social post to say she is ‘ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts’Trump supporters burn Maga hats after he dismisses Epstein files furorDonald Trump has lashed out against his own supporters, calling them gullible “weaklings” for questioning the transparency of a secretive government inquiry into the late high-profile socialite and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The US president is struggling to contain a political crisis within his usually loyal Make America Great Again (Maga) base over suspicion that the administration is hiding details of Epstein’s crimes to protect the rich elite Epstein associated with, which included Trump. Continue reading...

Politics