The Needle: House Judiciary Committee Calls for Special Counsel to Investigate Trump’s Involvement with Epstein, Locals Share What East Potomac Park Means to Them, Lawyers in Kennedy Center Case Want Trump to Turn Over Records, and More
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Gail O'Hara (via Washington CityPaper)
Filing cabinet: Today, House Judiciary Democrats released a 50-page report on convicted felon and President Donald Trump’s involvement in theEpstein files. The committee calls for an independent special counsel to investigate Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche’s conflicts of interest and the Justice Department’s reluctance to share relevant evidence. The report alleges Trump was “an active participant in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of young women in the mid-to-late 1990s” along with other allegations. A White House rep denies the allegations. Plus one point for investigations. +1 [MS Now]
Posttaste: A month before the publication of Bob Woodward’s forthcoming memoir, Secrets, the award-winning author outlines his dealings with Post owner Jeff Bezos. While Woodward was relieved when Bezos bought the outlet in 2013, the former says he lost respect for the tech titan around the time of the 2024 election, when Bezos killed the paper’s Kamala Harris endorsement, appeared at Trump’s inauguration, reined in the editorials, and conducted mass layoffs. “Bezos was now directly compromising public trust in The Washington Post’s aggressive and independent journalism — a reputation and legacy reporters and editors had tirelessly forged with readers over a half century,” Woodward writes. Plus one point for the Post publishing those words. +1 [Post]
It means a lot: As Trump continues to target East Potomac Park and Hains Point—cutting down trees, dumping waste, and attempting to close the area for 15 months—the Post spoke to current and former residents of the D.C. area and beyond about what the space means to them. Plus five points for the People’s Park. +5 [Post]
Let the records show: Lawyers for Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty say the Trump administration is withholding records documenting the scope of his influence over Kennedy Center management and are seeking a court order to force the center to turn over documents, emails, and text messages Trump claims are privileged. Records suggest Trump has been in “near-constant contact” with center management. The list of withheld documents includes 19 texts between KenCen executive director and CEO Matt Floca and Trump galpal Natalie Harp, along with 180 center-related texts between Floca and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Plus one point for demanding receipts. +1 [AP News]
Middle East piece: A new lawsuit accuses Trump and World Liberty Financial of “corruptly profiting” off more than $2 billion in digital currency-related deals. The suit centers on allegedly “illegal foreign emoluments” involving World Liberty and the national security adviser to the United Arab Emirates, and names Trump, World Liberty, and U.S. Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff as defendants, as well as four other companies. Plus two points for lawsuits. +2 [CNBC]
8 days … until the midterm elections. Plus one point for hope. +1
