Good evening, everyone. There is a lot to cover tonight, and this update is a big one. I have major new developments from the Epstein files to walk you through, even as the White House is urging the public to move on from discussing them. At the same time, the Treasury Department has confirmed that taxpayers could be on the hook for a potential $10 billion settlement to Donald Trump if he prevails in his IRS lawsuit, and the president appeared to shift blame onto Tulsi Gabbard over the FBI raid in Georgia.
This evening, I also sat down with DCCC Chair Suzanne DelBene for an in-depth conversation about the November elections, whether she is concerned about interference, and how the battlefield looks in the most competitive races across the country.
The Epstein files are the most important story right now. Despite that, some media outlets already seem eager to look away. I am not. I am reviewing every document and pushing for real accountability for survivors. Subscribe to support my work.
Here’s the news:
Attorneys for Jeffrey Epstein survivors say a Justice Department document release failed to properly redact victims’ names and personal details despite promises to fix the issue, leaving survivors publicly identifiable for days after millions of pages were posted under a new transparency law and raising concerns that the privacy harm is permanent.
CBS has confirmed that newly released Justice Department records reveal conflicting FBI and inspector general interpretations of blurry jail surveillance footage showing an orange-colored figure moving toward Jeffrey Epstein’s cell tier the night before his death, contradicting official claims that no one entered the area and raising fresh questions about gaps, inconsistencies, and unexamined evidence in the investigation that ruled his death a suicide.
This email suggests Jeffrey Epstein wanted to do a "coffee with Don Jr" in 2019. If true, this would be a bombshell. Why would this be a bombshell? Few reasons. First, Trump was President and his DOJ was already investigating Epstein at the time. Second, this was months before Epstein was indicted and died. Third, this was allegedly years after Trump cut off ties with Epstein. If that's the case, why is your son getting coffee with him?
More concerning Don Jr., now showing that Epstein was sending Jr. clips:
It appears as though Jeffrey Epstein was working to organize something (possibly a massage) for Elon Musk in 2012.
In 2020, Elon Musk said he had no recollection of Epstein getting a tour at SpaceX. Here is an email showing that he got the tour.
This is an email in which the sender of the email asks Jeffrey Epstein the name of the gynecologist that he sent his “victims to.” The New York Times previously reported that the “izmo” email was Epstein’s brother. Full file here.
Another communication that should not be redacted, but is:
Newly released Epstein files reveal that Steve Bannon repeatedly communicated with Jeffrey Epstein in 2018–2019 about raising money and building support for far-right and Eurosceptic parties across Europe—including efforts tied to figures like Matteo Salvini and Marine Le Pen—prompting political backlash and calls for investigations, though there is no evidence Epstein directly funded these parties and those implicated deny wrongdoing.
Newly scrutinized financial records show that Jeffrey Epstein shorted the Russian ruble five days before Russia’s annexation of Crimea, raising questions about whether he had advance knowledge of the move.
Scott Bessent confirms that taxpayers will pay Donald Trump $10 billion if he wins his lawsuit against the IRS.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump is bothered by an investigation into Bill Clinton because the two men have “shared a good relationship.”
Donald Trump offered shifting explanations for DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s presence at the FBI raid in Georgia, saying it was urged by Attorney General Pam Bondi after previously claiming he didn’t know why she attended, even as Gabbard told Congress that Trump personally directed her to observe the execution of the Fulton County search warrant. I broke it down here, I also interviewed Alex Vindman who is running for Senate in Florida:
Karoline Leavitt defended Donald Trump’s claim that Tulsi Gabbard joined an FBI raid on a Georgia election center at the urging of Pam Bondi, saying election security and protection from foreign interference fall within Gabbard’s duties.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to guarantee that ICE agents would not be present near polling locations in November.
The White House said it is open to negotiating some Democratic demands in talks over a full-year Department of Homeland Security funding bill, though Leavitt dismissed other requests as unrealistic “non-starters” without specifying which ones.
The Trump administration advanced a rule to reclassify certain civil service jobs, a move the Office of Personnel Management says would allow agencies to more easily fire federal workers for misconduct or poor performance, while critics warn it could also be used to remove employees deemed disloyal.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believe Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of a “Today” show host, is still alive as the search enters its fifth day.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said additional U.S. sanctions on Russia hinge on progress in talks to end the war in Ukraine, adding he is considering measures targeting Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
U.S.-led talks between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi ended a second day without a ceasefire breakthrough, though the sides agreed to exchange 157 prisoners each; U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said major negotiations remain ahead.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump “would much prefer” a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl LX halftime show:
Authorities say Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last accounted for returning home around 9:48 p.m. Saturday; overnight her doorbell camera and pacemaker app disconnected, and after she missed church Sunday morning, her family reported her missing just after noon as investigators confirmed her DNA was found at her home and the search continues with no suspect identified.
Guan Heng, 38, who secretly filmed detention facilities in China’s Xinjiang region and later published the footage, was freed from U.S. immigration detention after more than five months when an immigration judge granted him asylum, citing a well-founded fear of persecution; his release followed public and congressional pressure after he was initially targeted for deportation, and he has since reunited with his mother in New York.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
