Khanna names six excessive profile people showing in unredacted Epstein information
On the Home flooring immediately, congressman Ro Khanna named the six excessive profile males that are included within the unredacted model of the paperwork referring to Jeffrey Epstein.
Khanna named, US businessman Leslie Wexner of Victoria’s Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch and Bathtub & Physique Works fame; Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem; and Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, and Nicola Caputo.
“If we discovered six males that they had been hiding in two hours, think about what number of males they’re protecting up for in these three million information,” Khanna mentioned. “Why are they defending these wealthy and highly effective males? Individuals I name a part of the ‘Epstein class’. Why are we in a rustic the place there isn’t a elite accountability for individuals who do probably the most heinous issues?”
A reminder that this week, the California Democrat went to the Division of Justice with Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman who co-led the Epstein Recordsdata Transparency Act effort, to view the unredacted information. The justice division made their most up-to-date launch of paperwork accessible for members of Congress to view in-person. On Monday, Khanna and Massie the pair needed to do “some digging” earlier than discovering the brand new names, they instructed reporters.
Key occasions
Democratic congresswoman probes appearing ICE director: ‘Do you assume you are going to hell?’
In a very heated trade between LaMonica McIver and Todd Lyons. The Democratic congresswoman requested the appearing ICE director if he was a “notably non secular man”. After Lyons mentioned he was, McIver went additional.
“How do you assume judgment day will give you the results you want with a lot blood in your arms?” she requested Lyons, who refused to “entertain” the query.
She then mentioned: “Do you assume you’re going to hell, Mr Lyons?”
The committee’s Republican chair Andrew Garbarino rapidly interjected and requested McIver to droop her line of questioning. “Whereas oversight is essential, aggressively attacking these witnesses personally is inappropriate,” he mentioned.
New York Democrat Dan Goldman asks what steering ICE brokers have been given about asking folks on American streets to indicate proof of citizenship.
Todd Lyons says ICE “conducts focused, intelligence-driven operations. We don’t stroll across the streets asking folks about their American citizenship.”
Goldman asks if meaning all of the Americans who’ve been randomly requested are mendacity.
Lyons concedes that if ICE are conducting an investigation they’ll ask somebody their nationality (which … isn’t the identical factor).
Goldman makes the purpose that that, by definition, isn’t “focused”, as a result of “they’re asking all kinds of Americans, together with off-duty legislation enforcement officers.”
Seth Magaziner then makes a broader level, which I believe is price posting in full.
There was no accountability in your company below the Trump administration – none.
Your company has repeatedly been caught on tape utilizing pointless violence towards civilians and you’ll’t even inform me if any of those brokers have been investigated and disciplined.
You’re speculated to be making folks safer and as an alternative your brokers are being unnecessarily violent, and that’s the reason the Trump administration has misplaced the belief of the American folks on immigration.
Perceive, it’s not simply the actions of the brokers within the subject; it’s the dearth of accountability from the highest that has triggered public belief to erode, and there have to be main reforms earlier than we vote to present any of you any funding.
Your companies must act like different legislation enforcement companies. Take off the masks, put on badge numbers, implement self-discipline with actual requirements of conduct – however accountability begins on the prime.
Kristi Noem is totally unfit and ought to be faraway from workplace. And the entire operations we have now simply seen had been overseen by commander Gregory Bovino who himself engaged in extreme use of drive.
He even admitted that he lied to a federal judge when he claimed he had been hit by a rock when he threw a teargas canister at a crowd of civilians, however after the footage got here out and that turned out to not be true, he admitted that he lied about it.
He asks what disciplinary motion they will take towards Bovino, to which Rodney Scott says he can’t remark.
Requested if there was an investigation, Scott provides a imprecise reply about each allegation concerning use of drive being investigated and reviewed.
Magaziner now highlights an incident through which a federal agent sprayed pepper spray instantly into the face of a person who had already been pinned to the bottom by three different brokers (right here’s the clip, by way of CNN).
Is that this correct process for the usage of pepper spray, he asks.
Scott says he can’t touch upon that as a result of “you’re solely exhibiting one piece and that topic is clearly not compliant – ”.
Magaziner interrupts to reiterate that this isn’t the supposed use of pepper spray. Scott says the supposed use is to de-escalate.
Magaziner says being pinned to the bottom by three different brokers would recommend the person had been de-escalated.
He then asks if there was any investigation into the agent that did this, to which Scott says there are lots of open investigations and he’ll get again to him.
Magaziner turns to an incident from final yr through which an Illinois man and his US citizen household – together with his one-year-old daughter – had been pepper-sprayed in their car by federal immigration brokers throughout a procuring journey in a Chicago suburb.
Is it correct process to purpose pepper spray into the window of a shifting automobile, he asks.
At first, Rodney Scott, commissioner of CBP, says he’s not conversant in all the small print on this and it’s an ongoing investigation, earlier than conceding, “we attempt to keep away from that – no, it’s not correct process.”
Scott begins to speak about intentional vs unintentional, earlier than Magaziner says that “from the video, this was clearly intentional”.
Requested if any of the brokers concerned had been ever investigated and disciplined, Scott says the investigation is ongoing.
Todd Lyons is requested by Rhode Island Democrat Seth Magaziner whether or not ICE has employed anybody who was charged with against the law associated to the January 6, 2021 riot on the Capitol.
After a short pause, Lyons says he doesn’t have that info, “however I’d say no.”
Magaziner asks if him to search out out and please report again, to which Lyons agrees.
Requested if he would rent somebody who had attacked law enforcement officials on January 6, even when they had been “sadly” pardoned by the president, Lyons replies:
Sir, we take assault on legislation enforcement very severe and we have now a very good, strenuous vetting program.
In response to a line of questioning by California Democrat Lou Correa, Todd Lyons mentioned that an American citizen “shouldn’t really feel the necessity” to hold a passport to show their authorized standing within the nation. This comes amid a number of situations of US residents being profiled, searched and detained by federal immigration officers in the course of the crackdown in Minnesota and throughout the nation.
“The variety of instances of People being detained, being taken in, some being held for 5 days …What will we do with these folks in that scenario? What will we inform them?” Correa mentioned.
Lyons was firm that he was unaware of any examples of People detained by ICE.
Correa pushed Lyons on whether or not immigration enforcement is surveilling residents, notably protesters. “I can guarantee you, there isn’t a database that’s monitoring United States residents,” Lyons replied.
Requested if there have been plans to launch any footage from physique cameras worn by federal brokers in Minnesota, within the spirit of transparency to regain public belief, Todd Lyons mentioned:
100%, sir. One factor I’m dedicated to is full transparency, and I totally welcome physique cameras all throughout the spectrum and all of our legislation enforcement actions. Sure sir, physique digital camera footage might be launched.
ICE’s appearing director, Todd Lyons, didn’t affirm what number of brokers have been fired below his management when probed by Democratic lawmaker Eric Swalwell.
“I’m not going to discuss personnel actions, however I’ll get you that information,” Lyons mentioned.
“Are you telling us you may’t even say one individual’s been fired?” Swalwell pushed again.
Later, Lyons refused to remark when Swalwell requested if the he would apologize to the household of Renee Good, after Trump administration officers labelled her a “home terrorist”, after she was fatally shot by an ICE agent. The president, for his half, known as Good a “skilled agitator” and “very violent”, regardless of video footage exhibiting her driving away from legislation enforcement when she was killed.
“I welcome the chance to talk to the household in non-public, however I’m not going to touch upon any energetic investigation,” Lyons mentioned at immediately’s oversight listening to.
Lyons responded to questions from Andrew Garbarino in regards to the coaching that ICE brokers and officers obtain.
“They’re taught in defensive techniques, private security, however in addition to legal guidelines to incorporate first, second, fourth, fifth, tenth, 14th modification,” Lyons mentioned. “The officers are skilled earlier than they exit into the sphere. After which whereas they’re within the subject, there are specialised coaching when disturbance management and different particular techniques.”
Rodney Scott, the commissioner of Customs and Border Safety (CBP) mentioned that brokers undergo a 117 day Academy, whereas officers attend a 103 day coaching program.
Bennie Thompson pressed each Lyons and Scott in regards to the body-warn cameras by federal immigration enforcement. The appearing ICE director mentioned that roughly 3,000 officers out of round 13,000 put on cameras. Whereas Scott mentioned round half of CBP’s 20,000 brokers are fitted with cameras.
Performing ICE director says officers are going through ‘deadliest working surroundings’ in company’s historical past
Todd Lyons, the appearing director of ICE, spoke about “the hazards that ICE brokers and officers face nationwide” throughout his opening remarks immediately.
“I’m inspired that some Minnesota officers are lastly signaling the willingness to cooperate with ICE. Let me be clear, guarantees should not sufficient,” he mentioned. “We’d like motion within the wake of the unprecedented border disaster of the earlier administration. ICE stepped into the breach to implement the legislation. This dedication has a price. We’re going through the deadliest working surroundings our brokers companies historical past.”
High Democrat reignites requires Noem to resign
In his opening remarks immediately, Bennie Thompson, the homeland safety committee’s rating member, mentioned that Kristi Noem’s Division of Homeland Safety has the “blood of Americans on its hand”. Thompson is one in every of a number of Democrats who’ve known as on Noem to resign or threat impeachment.
The Democratic lawmaker additionally listed, what he sees, as a number of examples of indiscriminate use of drive and profiling by federal legislation enforcement because the immigration crackdown continues in Minnesota. This included the detention of five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father – who had been taken from Minneapolis, and despatched to a facility in Texas.
“DHS personnel at the moment are forcing their manner into non-public properties and not using a judicial warrant, in violation of the fourth modification,” Thompson mentioned. “Secretary Noem is a liar with no concern for the lives of People killed by the division she runs. She should go.”
High federal immigration officers reply lawmaker questions
On Capitol Hill, leaders for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Safety (CBP) and US Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) will reply questions from the Home homeland safety committee.
“We sit right here immediately at an inflection level,” mentioned committee chair Andrew Garbarino, a Republican congressman from New York. After the deadly shootings of Alex Pretti and Nicole Good in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers, fervent outrage on the extreme use of drive by ICE and border patrol brokers has unfold throughout the nation.
“That is all unacceptable and preventable. The protection and legislation enforcement and the communities they serve and shield should additionally at all times come first,” Garbarino mentioned in his opening remarks. “When officers or elected leaders rush to conclusions about legislation enforcement or their fellow People, public belief suffers. There have to be full and neutral investigation.”
This listening to comes as members of Congress proceed to barter guardrails for the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), forward of one other attainable partial shutdown when funding for the division lapses in three days. “Shutting down DHS makes America much less secure,” Garbarino mentioned, whereas noting that different companies like Transportation Safety Company (TSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Company (CISA) additionally fall below DHS’s mandate.
One observe for immediately, the Guidelines committee will take up the SAVE America act, paving the way in which for a attainable Home flooring vote. A reminder, that is the laws – backed by the president and plenty of Republican members of Congress – that will require proof of citizenship with a purpose to vote.
Voting rights specialists have lengthy warned this requirement would act as a barrier to taking part in elections, and noncitizens voting is each unlawful and very uncommon.
Donald Trump has spent latest weeks reviving his baseless claims that US elections are “rigged,” even urging GOP lawmakers to “nationalize” voting, regardless of states operating election administration, not the federal authorities.
Melody Schreiber
The Trump administration has launched TrumpRx, however there are different websites providing reductions on extra medicines, and the brand new authorities website will attraction to a really restricted group of sufferers, specialists say.
Trump has promised reforms on the unusually excessive drug costs within the US, and he known as the announcement “the biggest discount in prescription drug costs in historical past” at a press convention on Thursday. But the location solely lists 43 medicines, greater than half of which can be found in generic type at considerably cheaper costs elsewhere.
The location could make some weight reduction and fertility medication not lined by insurance coverage extra accessible, however general “it isn’t an answer for prime drug costs in the US”, mentioned Sean Sullivan, professor of well being economics and coverage and former dean of pharmacy on the College of Washington.
“Customers can in all probability get a less expensive model of those medicines by means of insurance coverage and their pharmacies, or by way of money pay companies like Price Plus Medication than by the offers supplied by means of TrumpRx,” Sullivan mentioned.
“Healthcare is basically difficult in America, and even the availability of prescribed drugs is basically difficult in America, and this has added to the complexity, as an alternative of lowering complexity,” mentioned Rena Conti, affiliate professor of markets, public coverage, and legislation at Boston College’s Questrom College of Enterprise.
The very best course is probably going nonetheless to “ask your native pharmacist what one of the best deal is”, Conti mentioned.
Learn Melody’s full report right here:
DHS funding invoice negotiations stall on Capitol Hill
On Capitol Hill, negotiations on a full yr funding invoice for the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) proceed with little success in sight.
A reminder, in need of passing one other persevering with decision, DHS funding lapses after 13 February.
With a purpose to forestall a shutdown within the coming days, Republicans would wish seven Democrats on board for both one other stopgap measure, or to conform to a full appropriations invoice.
Later immediately we’ll hear from each Home GOP and Democratic leaders at their respective press conferences to get a way of how this back-and-forth is taking part in out.
Earlier, we reported that Home minority chief, Hakeem Jeffries, and the Senate’s prime Democrat, Chuck Schumer, mentioned that the preliminary GOP response to Democrats’ calls for – which incorporates the necessity for judicial warrants and for immigration officers to now not put on masks – is “each incomplete and inadequate when it comes to addressing the considerations People have about ICE’s lawless conduct”. We’ve but to see the memo or doc outlining what the Republicans’ counter provide truly appears like.
Donald Trump is in Washington immediately. As of now, he’ll have time signing time within the Oval Workplace, adopted by a coverage assembly. Nevertheless, none of those occasions might be open to the press. We are going to hear from press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who will temporary reporters at 1pm ET.
We’ll carry you the most recent traces because it occurs.
