Justice Department releases largest batch yet of Epstein documents, says it totals 3 million pages
NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department has released many more records from its investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, resuming disclosures about what the government knew about the millionaire financier’s sexual abuse of young girls and his interactions with rich and powerful people such as Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday that the department would be releasing more than 3 million pages of documents, as well as more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. Included in the batch were records concerning some of Epstein’s famous associates, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew, as well as email correspondence between Epstein and Elon Musk and other prominent contacts.
Trump's choice of Warsh to lead Fed could reshape the world's most influential central bank
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve could bring about sweeping changes at a central bank that dominates the global economy and markets like no other. Warsh, if approved by the Senate, will be under close scrutiny from financial markets and Congress given his appointment by a president who has loudly demanded much lower rates than many economists think are justified by economic conditions. Whether he can maintain the Fed’s long time independence from day-to-day politics while also placating Trump will be a tremendous challenge. Warsh would replace current chair Jerome Powell when his term expires in May. Trump chose Powell to lead the Fed in 2017 but this year has relentlessly assailed him for not cutting interest rates quickly enough.
Journalist Don Lemon charged with federal civil rights crimes after covering anti-ICE church protest
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Journalist Don Lemon has been released from custody after being charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted services at a Minnesota church. He was arrested in Los Angeles and was freed after appearing in court. Lemon is charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul. Lemon has said he has no affiliation to the organization that went into the church and he was there as a solo journalist chronicling protesters. Lemon previously worked for CNN before being fired in 2023.
The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights probe into the killing of Alex Pretti
WASHINGTON (AP) — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says the Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis resident killed by Border Patrol officers. The Department of Homeland Security also said Friday that the FBI will lead the federal probe. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem first disclosed the shift in which agency was leading the investigation. DHS previously said that Homeland Security Investigations would lead the investigation. The change comes after other videos emerged of an earlier altercation between Pretti and federal immigration officers 11 days before his death.
Senate passes Trump-backed government funding deal, sending to House
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to fund most of the government through the end of September while carving out a temporary extension for Homeland Security funding, giving Congress two weeks to debate new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country. With a weekend shutdown looming, President Donald Trump struck the spending deal with Senate Democrats on Thursday in the wake of the deaths of two protesters at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis. Democrats said they would not vote for the larger spending bill unless Congress considers legislation to unmask agents, require more warrants and allow local authorities to help investigate any incidents.
Judge bars federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge says federal prosecutors can’t seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Margaret Garnett's Friday ruling foiled the Trump administration’s bid to see Mangione executed. Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Mangione, finding it technically flawed. She left in place stalking charges that could carry a life sentence. In a win for prosecutors, Garnett also ruled prosecutors can use evidence collected from his backpack during his arrest, including a 9 mm handgun and a notebook in which authorities say Mangione described his intent to “wack” an insurance executive. At a hearing Friday, Garnett says a trial will start Sept. 8 unless the government appeals.
Israel reopening Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt on Sunday after long closure
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says it will reopen Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt over the weekend. The move announced on Friday will allow Palestinians to enter and leave the territory after nearly two years of near-complete closure. The Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza said in a statement Friday that “limited movement of people only” would be allowed. The reopening of the Rafah crossing on Sunday will mark an important step forward for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan. The crossing is Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world. It has been largely closed since May 2024.
Thousands face another arctic blast without power as East Coast preps for a storm
NASHVILLE (AP) — Frustrations are bubbling up for the tens of thousands that have been without power for nearly a week in the U.S. South as a new storm looms. In Nashville, Tennessee, residents’ criticisms of their utility’s storm preparations and recovery reached a fever pitch on Friday. Meanwhile, the Carolinas and Virginia are preparing for a significant winter storm that could bring more snowfall than some parts of North Carolina have seen in years. The National Weather Service says arctic air moving into the Southeast will cause already frigid temperatures to plummet into the teens Friday night in cities like Nashville.
Catherine O'Hara, Emmy-winning comic actor of 'Schitt's Creek' and 'Home Alone' fame, dies at 71
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Catherine O'Hara has died at 71. The Emmy-winning actor was known for her roles on “SCTV,” “Schitt's Creek,” and the two “Home Alone” films. Her agency, CAA, announced she died Friday at her Los Angeles home after a brief illness. O'Hara was a Canadian-born actor who gained fame through Toronto's Second City Theatre. She was also one of the key stars of the sketch comedy show “SCTV.” Her career spanned decades, and she was celebrated for her comedic brilliance in films including “Beetlejuice” and “Best in Show.” She won an Emmy for “Schitt's Creek” and got Emmy nominations for late-career roles in “The Last of Us” and “The Studio.”
US stocks fall while a break in gold fever sends metals prices plunging
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell on Wall Street, while gold and silver prices plunged as investors tried to gauge what President Donald Trump’s new nominee to lead the Federal Reserve will mean for interest rates. The S&P 500 dropped 0.4% after sinking as much as 1.1% earlier on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.9%. The value of the U.S. dollar rallied but only after swiveling a couple times. Gold’s price dropped 11%, and silver plummeted more than 30% as tremendous rallies for both metals suddenly halted. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market.
