President Trump meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. within the Oval Workplace on the White Home on July 22. Throughout a question-and-answer session with reporters whereas on the assembly, Trump railed in opposition to former President Barack Obama and different Democratic figures.
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs
The Justice Division on Tuesday mentioned it’s in contact with an lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime affiliate of intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, to attempt to prepare a gathering along with her within the coming days. President Trump mentioned he thought the event “sounds applicable,” although he additionally claimed to know nothing about it.
Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche introduced the plan on social media, saying that the division is in search of any data from Maxwell — who’s serving time for intercourse trafficking — as a part of its quest to uncover “all credible proof” within the Epstein case.
Trump, who was as soon as buddies with Epstein, is going through a backlash from supporters who need extra data launched concerning the disgraced financier’s crimes and his 2019 demise by suicide in jail.
Trump has dismissed the uproar as a politically pushed “witch hunt” distracting from his agenda. Requested concerning the latest improvement on Tuesday, he instructed reporters, “I do not actually comply with that an excessive amount of.”
His feedback to reporters got here whereas he was assembly with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines on commerce points. After the assembly, Trump introduced on social media that importers of products from the Philippines will face a 19% tariff, whereas U.S. exports to the nation will face no tariffs.
Trump spent most of his time within the Oval Workplace question-and-answer session railing in opposition to former President Barack Obama and different Democratic figures. Trump’s spy chief, Tulsi Gabbard, not too long ago revealed supplies that she claims present that Obama officers “manufactured and politicized intelligence” about Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election.
“It is essentially the most unbelievable factor I believe I’ve ever learn. So that you ought to check out that and cease speaking about nonsense,” Trump instructed reporters — the “nonsense” referring to the Epstein controversy.
Trump mentioned it was “time to go after individuals” in connection to his allegations concerning the 2016 election.
Republicans in Congress have additionally been grappling with the Epstein situation. Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., introduced Tuesday that the Home would end work a day early, canceling votes scheduled for later within the week.
Which means members will go away city for an annual August recess with no contemporary confrontation over Epstein. The schedule change was introduced after repeated clashes amongst Republicans concerning the information, together with a impasse within the highly effective Home Guidelines Committee over an effort by Democrats to pressure extra votes on the Epstein matter.
NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales contributed to this report.
