Democrats Storm Out of Justice Department Briefing on Epstein Files, Demand AG Testimony Under Oath
In a dramatic move, Democrats walked out of a closed-door briefing by the US Department of Justice regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files on Wednesday. Lawmakers announced they would push to compel Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify under oath, citing dissatisfaction with the department's handling of millions of documents related to Epstein's sex trafficking case.
Bipartisan Support for Subpoena Amid Document Controversy
The briefing, which focused on the release and management of Epstein-related materials, drew criticism from both sides of the aisle. Some Republicans joined Democrats in backing a subpoena for Bondi's deposition scheduled for next month. This rare bipartisan alignment underscores the growing scrutiny over the Justice Department's transparency and accountability in the high-profile case.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded by stating she would "follow the law" and defended the department's efforts in releasing documents. However, the Justice Department rejected the subpoena as unnecessary, firmly denying allegations of shielding former President Donald Trump or other prominent figures from scrutiny.
Global News Updates: From Alaska to Rio de Janeiro
In other breaking news, the US Department of the Interior held its first oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska since 2019. The sale attracted strong interest, with bids from 11 companies for 187 tracts, hailed by officials and industry groups as a boost for energy development in Alaska. This move aligns with a renewed push by the Donald Trump administration to expand drilling, though it faces legal challenges from environmental and Indigenous groups concerned about impacts on wildlife and protected areas, including around Teshekpuk Lake.
Tragedy struck in southeast Alaska, where two tugboat crew members were killed and two others injured in a "confined space incident" aboard a barge moored about 25 miles northwest of Ketchikan. The Coast Guard reported that the victims were in a confined space aboard the freight barge Waynehoe when contact was lost. The parents of one victim, Sidney Mohorovich, revealed that Coast Guard officials indicated high levels of methane gas were present in the space, though details remain limited.
In Rio de Janeiro, at least eight people died during a police operation against organized crime, including one of Brazil's most-wanted drug lords, Claudio Augusto dos Santos. Around 150 members of the city's elite BOPE military police unit, backed by armored vehicles, deployed in favelas near the Santa Teresa neighborhood, leading to a major armed confrontation.
Meanwhile, Russian drones struck several apartment buildings in Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, triggering fires and injuring at least three people. Local officials reported damage to high-rise buildings and private homes, with fires quickly brought under control.
Stay tuned for more real-time updates on breaking news from around the world.
