In a lengthy social media post, Trump hit out at complaints from critics who have accused Bondi of withholding more information about Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s sudden death and his so-called client list.<\/p>\n
\u201cLET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB,\u201d Trump wrote in all caps, encouraging his supporters to \u201cnot waste time and energy\u201d on Epstein.<\/p>\n
Bondi suggested to Fox News in February<\/a> that Epstein\u2019s client list was \u201csitting on my desk right now to review\u201d. She had also repeatedly pledged to reveal potentially damaging evidence including \u201ca lot of names\u201d and \u201ca lot of flight logs\u201d relating to Epstein.<\/p>\n But the justice department last week released a memo<\/a> concluding there was no evidence suggesting the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender kept a \u201cclient list\u201d to blackmail high-profile figures. It also found no evidence to suggest foul play in Epstein\u2019s death, which had previously been ruled a suicide.<\/p>\n Bondi sought to clarify her remarks in the White House on Tuesday, telling reporters that she had been commenting on the entire Epstein \u201cfile\u201d and other files.<\/p>\n Tucker Carlson<\/strong> has told NBC News this morning<\/a> that he now believes the justice department doesn\u2019t actually have \u201cmuch relevant information about Jeffrey Epstein<\/strong>\u2019s sex crimes\u201d. \u201cRather than just admit that, Pam Bondi<\/strong> made a bunch of ludicrous claims on cable news shows that she couldn\u2019t back up, and this current outrage is the result,\u201d Carlson said.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.04 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Trump administration sued by US states over withholding $6.8bn for schools<\/p>\n A coalition of mostly Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit today challenging a move by Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s administration to withhold about $6.8bn in congressionally approved federal funding for K-12 schools.<\/p>\n Attorneys general or governors from 24 states and the District of Columbia<\/strong> sued in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, arguing that the US Department of Education<\/strong> and the office of <\/strong>management and <\/strong>budget<\/strong> threw schools nationwide into chaos by unconstitutionally freezing funding for six programs approved by Congress.<\/p>\n The freeze extended to funding used to support the education of migrant farm workers and their children; recruitment and training of teachers; English proficiency learning; academic enrichment; and after-school and summer programs.<\/p>\n The administration also froze funding used to support adult literacy and job-readiness skills.<\/p>\n The government was legally required to release the money to the states by 1 July, the lawsuit said. Instead, the education department notified states on 30 June that it would not be issuing grant awards under those programs by that deadline. It cited the change in administration as its reason.<\/p>\n An OMB spokesperson at the time cited an \u201congoing programmatic review\u201d of education funding and said initial findings showed what he termed as a misuse of grant funds to \u201csubsidize a radical leftwing agenda<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n OMB also raised objections to the use of the grant money to support scholarships for immigrant students<\/strong> and lessons that involved LGBTQ+ themes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The Democratic-led states said the sweeping funding freeze has disrupted school systems, resulting in summer school and after-school programs being canceled or put at risk and the halting of other initiatives with little time for school districts to fill in the holes left in their budgets.<\/p>\n The states say the administration violated the US constitution by disregarding Congress\u2019 sole authority over spending<\/strong> and ran afoul of federal administrative law by freezing the funds without any reasoned explanation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The states also say the administration failed to abide by procedures of the Impoundment Control Act<\/strong>, which bars the executive branch from unilaterally refusing to spend funds appropriated by Congress unless certain steps are followed.<\/p>\n The lawsuit follows a series of other cases Democratic-led states and others have filed challenging the administration\u2019s sweeping efforts to freeze or terminate federal funding for programs out of step with Trump\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.17 EDT<\/p>\n Hundreds of detainees with no criminal charges sent to Trump\u2019s \u2018Alligator Alcatraz\u2019<\/p>\n Richard Luscombe<\/p>\n The notorious new \u201cAlligator Alcatraz\u201d immigration jail<\/a> in the Florida Everglades contains hundreds of detainees with no criminal records or charges, it was disclosed yesterday, as lawmakers decried \u201cinhumane\u201d conditions inside after touring the facility.<\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/strong> has insisted that the remote camp in swamp land populated by pythons and alligators was reserved for immigrants who were \u201cderanged psychopaths\u201d and \u201csome of the most vicious people on the planet\u201d awaiting deportation.<\/p>\n But at least one detainee shouted out to politicians during Saturday\u2019s visit that he was a US citizen, the Democratic Florida congressman Maxwell Frost<\/strong> said. And the Miami Herald obtained and published a list of 700 people<\/a> held in cages showing that at least 250 had committed no offense other than a civil immigration violation.<\/p>\n People protest against the immigration detention facility in Ochopee, Florida, on 1 July. Photograph: Dave Decker\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Authorities have refused to release a list of those sent there by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (Ice)<\/strong>. The Florida<\/a> department of emergency management, which operates the hastily assembled tent encampment, did not respond to a request from the Guardian for clarification or comment.<\/p>\n Frost said the revelations, and the lawmakers\u2019 visit, raised new questions about the legality of the camp, which federal agencies in court documents have insisted is entirely a state-run and -funded operation.<\/p>\n There are Ice agents there every day, and I was told directly from the guy running the whole thing that Ice tells them exactly what to do, how to put everything together.<\/p>\n They gave them the instructions on how to do the cages, the food, who comes in and goes out. It\u2019s Ice making all the decisions, and he was very clear that the role the state is playing is logistical. This is a federal facility. Ice is calling all the shots.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a>Biden denies White House aides granted clemency without his knowledge<\/p>\n Edward Helmore<\/p>\n Joe Biden<\/a> has denied claims that his circle of aides acted without his knowledge when he granted a slew of pardons and commutations in the final days and hours of his presidency.<\/p>\n \u201cI made every single one of those,\u201d the former president told the New York Times <\/a>in an interview published yesterday when asked about claims that he was incapacitated and unaware of clemency decisions. Biden called the people making those claims \u201cliars\u201d, adding: \u201cThey know it.\u201d<\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s successor and predecessor in the Oval Office issued three sets of clemency during his final days, including reducing sentences of hundreds of non-violent drug offenders and commuting the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life without parole.<\/p>\n He pardoned his son, Hunter Biden<\/strong>, of convictions on federal gun and tax charges, too. And he also granted pre-emptive pardons to other members of his immediate family, along with the former top public health adviser Dr Anthony Fauci<\/strong> and ex-joint chiefs of staff chair Gen Mark Milley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House on 30 September 2024. \u2018Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency,\u2019 he said in June 2025. Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/p>\n Conservatives have alleged that the commutations and pardons, along with executive orders passed during his term, are not binding because they were signed using an autopen printer<\/a> to reproduce a signature and could therefore not be verified as being directly authorized by Biden himself.<\/p>\n In the NYT interview, Biden hit back at that suggestion, telling the Times he hadn\u2019t personally signed the orders simply \u201cbecause there were a lot of them\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe autopen \u2026 is legal,\u201d Biden said. \u201cAs you know, other presidents used it, including Trump<\/strong>. But the point is that \u2026 we\u2019re talking about a whole lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n Biden has previously pushed back on Republican claims he was unaware of what was being issued in his name.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency<\/strong>,\u201d he said in June. \u201cI made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn\u2019t is ridiculous and false.\u201d<\/p>\n In his most recent remarks, to the Times, Biden accused Republicans of using the autopen issue as diversion.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve lied so consistently about almost everything they\u2019re doing. The best thing they can do is try to change the focus and focus on something else. And \u2026 I think that\u2019s what this is about.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte took a bit of a back seat as Donald Trump<\/a> answered questions from reporters in a media session that just ended.<\/strong><\/p>\n But Rutte did say that Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark would be among the buyers to supply Ukraine. He said \u201cspeed is of the essence here,\u201d and that the shipments should make Putin \u201creconsider\u201d peace negotiations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Trump said the weapons the US would send to Nato to support Ukraine in its war against Russia would include Patriot missile systems and batteries, Reuters reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a full complement with the batteries,\u201d Trump said when asked whether he would send Patriot missiles specifically.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have some come very soon, within days… a couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over and will replace the Patriots with the ones they have.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Trump\u2019s threat to put \u201csevere tariffs\u201d on Russia over the Ukraine war comes amid a bipartisan push for sanctions on Moscow.<\/strong><\/p>\n The bill, backed by Republican senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, calls for a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports, according to the Associated Press<\/a>. The move essentially targets countries like China and India, which account for about 70% of Russia\u2019s energy trade and finance much of Moscow\u2019s war effort.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that Donald Trump<\/a> did not provide specifics on how the tariffs on Russia would be implemented. <\/p>\n \u201cI use trade for a lot of things,\u201d he added. \u201cBut it\u2019s great for settling wars.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump: Russia faces ‘very severe tariffs’ in 50 days if no Ukraine peace deal<\/p>\n Donald Trump is still speaking now in the Oval Office alongside Nato leader Mark Rutte.<\/p>\n Trump, while announcing Patriot missiles being sent to Kyiv, said the US will impose \u201cvery severe tariffs\u201d on Russia in 50 days if there is no deal to stop the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.25 EDT<\/p>\n Trump hosts Rutte and announces sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine<\/p>\n While the Maga world is in disarray over the Epstein files, president Donald Trump<\/a> is hosting Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte in the White House for talks that will also include state secretary Marco Rubio, defense secretary Pete Hegseth and members of Congress.<\/p>\n Trump announced he was sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine to assist in the war against Russia. He also said he was \u201cdisappointed\u201d in Russian president Vladimir Putin for failing to agree to a deal to stop the war.<\/p>\n You can follow our live coverage of Trump and Rutte right now in our Europe blog:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.21 EDT<\/p>\n Who is deputy FBI director Dan Bongino?<\/p>\n For those who need a refresher on who deputy FBI<\/a> director Dan<\/strong> Bongino<\/strong> is, here\u2019s a quick recap.<\/p>\n Dan Bongino leaving a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Trump\u2019s mega tax and spending bill at the Capitol on 25 June. Photograph: Kayla Bartkowski\/Getty Images<\/p>\n A former New York police officer and Secret Service agent who provided security to presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama, Bongino is best known as a far-right Maga podcaster and conspiracy theorist, who vocally supported Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s lie that the 2020 presidential election was \u201cstolen\u201d.<\/p>\n Bongino had never served in the FBI, and his appointment as deputy marked the first time in its 117-year history that the second-in-command post has not been held by one of its senior agents.<\/p>\n A former Fox News Host, Bongino has written books alleging the existence of a \u201cdeep state\u201d conspiracy against Trump. He also ran unsuccessfully three times as a Republican in congressional races in Maryland and Florida.<\/p>\n As a podcast host, Bongino spent years pushing Epstein conspiracy theories, and has reportedly been very upset<\/a> with attorney general Pam Bondi<\/strong> over how the Epstein files<\/strong> were handled.<\/p>\n \u201cBongino is out-of-control furious,\u201d a source close to Bongino told NBC News<\/a>. \u201cThis destroyed his career. He\u2019s threatening to quit and torch Pam unless she\u2019s fired.\u201d Axios reported<\/a> that Bongino didn\u2019t show up to work on Friday, and the row prompted Trump himself to step in.<\/p>\n Asked by reporters yesterday if Bongino would remain in his position, Trump said:<\/p>\n Oh I think so … I spoke to him today. Dan Bongino, very good guy. I\u2019ve known him a long time. I\u2019ve done his show many, many times. He sounded terrific, actually.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Here\u2019s more on Bongino from my colleague Robert Tait<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.48 EDT<\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/a> managed something unusual last week. In his administration\u2019s<\/a> claim that it did not have a list of Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s<\/a> alleged clients, and that the convicted sex offender was not murdered, it succeeded in upsetting the rightwing influencers and commentators \u2013 and reportedly even Trump\u2019s deputy FBI director<\/a> \u2013 people who typically champion his every move.<\/p>\n \u201cThis stinks. This just reeks,\u201d was the verdict of Jesse Watters, the primetime Fox News host. He added:<\/p>\n The feds spent decades investigating Epstein and have had total access to his property for years, they still cannot give us a straight answer? This is not anything new; the government has been keeping us in the dark for generations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Watters was careful not to criticize the Trump administration<\/a> directly, blaming \u201cthe feds\u201d as he described Pam Bondi<\/strong>, the attorney general, and Kash Patel<\/strong>, the director of the FBI, as \u201cgreat Americans\u201d.<\/p>\n But within the rightwing, Epstein-curious sphere, others had continued to wade in. \u201cPam Blondi<\/strong> [sic] is covering up child sex crimes that took place under HER WATCH when she was Attorney General of Florida,\u201d wrote Laura Loomer<\/a>, the 32-year-old conspiracy theorist whose influence over Trump<\/a> has come under scrutiny.<\/p>\n Loomer accused Bondi of failing to pursue legal action against Epstein, despite lawsuits being filed against him in Florida. \u201cShe is afraid of that being discussed and brought to light. She needs to be fired. She has tainted the investigation,\u201d Loomer concluded.<\/p>\n When the justice department said that Epstein did not keep a client list<\/a> and no more files related to his sex-trafficking investigation would be made public, the White House claimed Bondi had been talking about the \u201centirety of all of the paperwork and relation to Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s crimes\u201d, which satisfied few rightwing commentators, many of whom have built careers on propagating conspiracy theories.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were all told more was coming. That answers were out there and would be provided. Incredible how utterly mismanaged this Epstein mess has been. And it didn\u2019t have to be,\u201d said Jack Posobiec<\/a>, who promoted<\/a> the baseless theory that high-level Democrats were running a child sex ring out of a Washington pizzeria. Posobiec was among a group of rightwing influencers who were given binders labeled \u201cThe Epstein Files: Phase 1\u201d during a visit to the White House in February \u2013 although many were disappointed that those documents contained little new information<\/a>.<\/p>\n The ire was also inspired by the justice department releasing an 11-hour video showing the exterior of Epstein\u2019s door, apparently in an effort to show no one entered his cell at the time he died. But a minute of the video was missing, which satisfied few on the right.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some extremely bizarre things about the video of Epstein\u2019s cell that Pam Bondi\u2019s DOJ released as proof no one killed him. First, a full minute appears to be missing from the video and secondly, it does NOT appear to be the same cell as the photo released on Jan 5, 2020,\u201d wrote Robby Starbuck<\/strong>, a rightwing influencer and Trump supporter. \u201cAnyone else find this extremely troubling?\u201d<\/p>\n Others were more direct. \u201cNO ONE IS BUYING THIS!! Next the DOJ will say \u2018Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed.\u2019 This is over the top sickening,\u201d Alex Jones<\/strong>, the rightwing commentator and conspiracy theorist, wrote<\/a> on social media.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.12 EDT<\/p>\n Trump defends Pam Bondi as his base calls for attorney general’s dismissal<\/p>\n Donald Trump<\/strong> has defended attorney general Pam Bondi <\/strong>amid calls from Maga world for her to go.<\/p>\n In a lengthy social media post, Trump hit out at complaints from critics who have accused Bondi of withholding more information about Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s sudden death and his so-called client list.<\/p>\n \u201cLET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB,\u201d Trump wrote in all caps, encouraging his supporters to \u201cnot waste time and energy\u201d on Epstein.<\/p>\n Bondi suggested to Fox News in February<\/a> that Epstein\u2019s client list was \u201csitting on my desk right now to review\u201d. She had also repeatedly pledged to reveal potentially damaging evidence including \u201ca lot of names\u201d and \u201ca lot of flight logs\u201d relating to Epstein.<\/p>\n But the justice department last week released a memo<\/a> concluding there was no evidence suggesting the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender kept a \u201cclient list\u201d to blackmail high-profile figures. It also found no evidence to suggest foul play in Epstein\u2019s death, which had previously been ruled a suicide.<\/p>\n Bondi sought to clarify her remarks in the White House on Tuesday, telling reporters that she had been commenting on the entire Epstein \u201cfile\u201d and other files.<\/p>\n Tucker Carlson<\/strong> has told NBC News this morning<\/a> that he now believes the justice department doesn\u2019t actually have \u201cmuch relevant information about Jeffrey Epstein<\/strong>\u2019s sex crimes\u201d. \u201cRather than just admit that, Pam Bondi<\/strong> made a bunch of ludicrous claims on cable news shows that she couldn\u2019t back up, and this current outrage is the result,\u201d Carlson said.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Maga base is furious with Pam Bondi after she failed to deliver on promises of major revelations on the Epstein files. Photograph: Ken Cedeno\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.04 EDT<\/p>\n Over the weekend, FBI<\/a> director Kash Patel<\/strong> denied swirling resignation rumors over reported unhappiness at the justice department decision to close the book on Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> after administration officials teased a big reveal earlier in the year.<\/p>\n In a Saturday social media post, the agency director said in a social media post at the weekend: \u201cthe conspiracy theories just aren\u2019t true, never have been<\/strong>. It\u2019s an honor to serve the President of the United States \u2013 and I\u2019ll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the past week, Maga<\/strong> hardliners, including Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene<\/a>, former White House adviser Steve Bannon<\/strong> and \u2013 reportedly \u2013 FBI deputy director Dan Bongino<\/strong>, have been strongly critical of a joint decision by US attorney general Pam Bondi<\/a> and the FBI to not release further information about Epstein held in government files, including a so-called client list.<\/p>\n And on Friday, NBC News reported that Bongino<\/strong> was considering stepping down from his post at the FBI<\/a> after a \u201cheated confrontation\u201d with Bondi<\/strong> over the issue. CBS News heard that he then didn\u2019t show up to work that day.<\/p>\n \u201cBongino is out-of-control furious,\u201d the person who has spoken with the deputy FBI director said. \u201cThis destroyed his career. He\u2019s threatening to quit and torch Pam unless she\u2019s fired.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump last night played down<\/a> the resignation rumors, saying he had spoken to Bongino who sounded \u201cterrific\u201d.<\/p>\n But Maga influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer<\/strong> had this prediction for Politico: \u201cI don\u2019t see how <\/strong>there can be a situation where Bongino can coexist with Blondi [Loomer\u2019s derisive moniker for Bondi] as attorney general, and so I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if we see a resignation from Bongino. Perhaps I\u2019m wrong, but it would not shock me if Bongino resigns in the next week.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.32 EDT<\/p>\n Democrat to introduce legislation calling for Epstein files release<\/p>\n The Democrats<\/strong> are on it too. Later today in the House, representative Marc Veasey<\/strong> is introducing legislation calling for the release of the Epstein files<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Veasey told Politico:<\/p>\n I think [Trump\u2019s<\/strong>] trying to protect some billionaire friend of his. That\u2019s what he lives for more than anything else in the world: protecting billionaires. Look at what he did with the so-called \u2018big, beautiful bill\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n A vote would not only be uncomfortable for House Republicans \u2013 it would also keep the story in the news when the president would prefer it to disappear. Trump will probably try to latch on to some other story to try to change the narrative today, so we\u2019ll be looking out for that.<\/p>\n Politico also notes that \u201cthe growing number of Democrats making similar efforts on the Epstein files spans a wide breadth of the party\u2019s membership, from New York<\/strong> representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a><\/strong> to Georgia<\/strong> senator Jon Ossoff<\/a><\/strong>; from relative backbenchers to members of the Senate leadership, like Hawaii<\/strong> senator Brian Schatz<\/a><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Pam](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/3104.jpg\")
Trump\u2019s Maga base is furious with Pam Bondi after she failed to deliver on promises of major revelations on the Epstein files. Photograph: Ken Cedeno\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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![\"Adam](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Adam-Gabbatt,-R.png\")
Adam Gabbatt<\/p>\n\n
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