The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for files in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation and is seeking depositions with the Clintons and former law enforcement officials. It's part of a probe lawmakers believe may show links to President Donald Trump and former top officials. The Republican-controlled committee issued subpoenas for depositions with Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and eight former top law enforcement officials. Trump denies prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and says he cut off their relationship long ago. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are asking in court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the sex trafficking cases against Epstein and his ex-girlfriend but say there's not much new in them.
By ERIC TUCKER, ALI SWENSON and AARON KESSLER Associated Press
Kash Patel positioned himself as a steadfast Donald Trump loyalist well before the president picked him to run the FBI. An Associated Press review of nearly 100 podcasts that Patel hosted or on which he was interviewed over the last four years reveals how Patel has denigrated the investigations into Trump, sowed doubt in the criminal justice system, criticized the decision-making of the institution he's been asked to lead and professed sympathy for jailed Jan. 6 rioters. The vast catalog of provocative public statements, sometimes made in the company of like-minded FBI antagonists, provides an unusually extensive record into a nominee's unvarnished and controversial worldviews.
The Justice Department says Attorney General Merrick Garland will not be prosecuted for contempt of Congress after refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents case because his actions "did not constitute a crime." A Justice Department official said that in a letter to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday. The House voted Wednesday to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over the audio of Biden's interview with a special counsel. The Democratic White House has accused Republicans of wanting the audio recordings only so they can chop them up and use them for political purposes.
The House is expected to vote on a resolution holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents case. It is a move that comes just weeks after the White House blocked release of the recording to lawmakers. The contempt action represents House Republicans' latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department and of Garland's leadership. And it's playing out against the backdrop of an extraordinary conflict over the rule of law that has animated the presidential campaign. But it remains uncertain if House Speaker Mike Johnson can garner enough support on the floor to pass the contempt resolution as Republicans have the slimmest of majorities.
