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| Labor secretary Acosta defends role in Epstein's 'sweetheart' plea deal – live | Labor secretary Acosta defends role in Epstein's 'sweetheart' plea deal – live |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Kari Paul, signing off for the night! Here’s what happened late in the day today. | |
| Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath said she would have supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh then changed her mind. | |
| A Nevada congressman is calling for Energy Secretary Rick Perry to resign over a toxic waste controversy. | |
| A federal judge in Maryland denied the Justice Department’s motion to replace its legal team in its case to include a question regarding citizenship on the 2020 Census. | |
| Former Palm Beach State Attorney Barry Krischer denied allegations from labor secretary Alexander Acosta that he mishandled charges of sex crimes against Jeffrey Epstein more than a decade ago. | |
| Less than 24 hours after saying she would have voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath has reversed her position. | |
| I was asked earlier today about Judge Brett Kavanaugh and I answered based upon his qualifications to be on the Supreme Court. But upon further reflection and further understanding of his record, I would have voted no. | |
| McGrath, a retired Marine, tweeted at 7:30 pm ET on Wednesday she would not, in fact, have voted to confirm the justice, who faced allegations of sexual assault. | |
| Amy McGrath, the Democratic candidate challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his seat in 2020, said she likely would have voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. | Amy McGrath, the Democratic candidate challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his seat in 2020, said she likely would have voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. |
| “I was very concerned about Judge Kavanaugh, what I felt like were the far-right stances that he had. However, there was nothing in his record that I think would disqualify him in any way,” McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot, told the Louisville Courier-Journal. | “I was very concerned about Judge Kavanaugh, what I felt like were the far-right stances that he had. However, there was nothing in his record that I think would disqualify him in any way,” McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot, told the Louisville Courier-Journal. |
| “And the fact is when you have the president and the Senate, this is our system and so I don’t think there was anything that would have disqualified him in my mind,” she said, adding when pressed on how she would have voted: “yeah, I probably would have voted for him.” | “And the fact is when you have the president and the Senate, this is our system and so I don’t think there was anything that would have disqualified him in my mind,” she said, adding when pressed on how she would have voted: “yeah, I probably would have voted for him.” |
| A Nevada congressman is calling for Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s resignation after the department acknowledged low-level radioactive waste that was shipped to Nevada may have been mislabeled and out of compliance with safety regulations for years. | A Nevada congressman is calling for Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s resignation after the department acknowledged low-level radioactive waste that was shipped to Nevada may have been mislabeled and out of compliance with safety regulations for years. |
| From the Associated Press: | From the Associated Press: |
| Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford said Wednesday that Perry has disrespected the people of Nevada and eroded public trust in his ability to abide by rules established for nuclear waste disposal. | Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford said Wednesday that Perry has disrespected the people of Nevada and eroded public trust in his ability to abide by rules established for nuclear waste disposal. |
| The material is unrelated to weapons-grade plutonium that the department secretly shipped to the same site last year and is currently at the center of a legal battle with the state of Nevada in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. | The material is unrelated to weapons-grade plutonium that the department secretly shipped to the same site last year and is currently at the center of a legal battle with the state of Nevada in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. |
| Former Palm Beach State Attorney Barry Krischer denied allegations from labor secretary Alexander Acosta that he mishandled charges of sex crimes against Jeffrey Epstein more than a decade ago. | Former Palm Beach State Attorney Barry Krischer denied allegations from labor secretary Alexander Acosta that he mishandled charges of sex crimes against Jeffrey Epstein more than a decade ago. |
| Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier with ties to the Trump administration, is facing new charges of trafficking and raping underage girls.Democrats are now calling for the resignation of Acosta, who brokered a plea deal for Epstein in 2008. | Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier with ties to the Trump administration, is facing new charges of trafficking and raping underage girls.Democrats are now calling for the resignation of Acosta, who brokered a plea deal for Epstein in 2008. |
| Acosta defended his handling of the case and said Krischer was responsible for the deal. | Acosta defended his handling of the case and said Krischer was responsible for the deal. |
| In a statement released Wednesday, Krischer said Acosta is “completely wrong” and that a 53 page federal indictment “was abandoned after secret negotiations between Mr. Epstein’s lawyers and Mr. Acosta.” | In a statement released Wednesday, Krischer said Acosta is “completely wrong” and that a 53 page federal indictment “was abandoned after secret negotiations between Mr. Epstein’s lawyers and Mr. Acosta.” |
| “No matter how my office resolved the state charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office always had the ability to file its own federal charges,” he said. | “No matter how my office resolved the state charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office always had the ability to file its own federal charges,” he said. |
| Federal regulators have raised “serious concerns” about Facebook’s proposed cryptocurrency Libra related to “money laundering, consumer protection and financial stability”, according to the New York Times. | Federal regulators have raised “serious concerns” about Facebook’s proposed cryptocurrency Libra related to “money laundering, consumer protection and financial stability”, according to the New York Times. |
| “I just think it cannot go forward without there being broad satisfaction with the way the company has addressed money laundering”, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell testified on Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee. | “I just think it cannot go forward without there being broad satisfaction with the way the company has addressed money laundering”, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell testified on Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee. |
| Previously, five Democrats in the committee called on Facebook to “immediately cease implementation plans” of Libra until lawmaker questions are answered. | Previously, five Democrats in the committee called on Facebook to “immediately cease implementation plans” of Libra until lawmaker questions are answered. |
| In June, Facebook announced plans to roll out the digital currency in 2020. It has pledged to work with regulators ahead of the official launch. | In June, Facebook announced plans to roll out the digital currency in 2020. It has pledged to work with regulators ahead of the official launch. |
| A federal judge will let prosecutors file secret evidence in the trespassing case of a Chinese woman accused of sneaking into President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club because it contains national security information. | A federal judge will let prosecutors file secret evidence in the trespassing case of a Chinese woman accused of sneaking into President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club because it contains national security information. |
| From the Associated Press: | From the Associated Press: |
| District Judge Roy Altman said in a two-page order filed Tuesday that he reviewed the evidence against Yujing Zhang that prosecutors want to keep secret and agrees its disclosure could “seriously damage” U.S. national security. | District Judge Roy Altman said in a two-page order filed Tuesday that he reviewed the evidence against Yujing Zhang that prosecutors want to keep secret and agrees its disclosure could “seriously damage” U.S. national security. |
| Zhang is charged with illegally entering the president’s Florida club in March and then lying to Secret Service agents when confronted. Her trial is scheduled for next month. Authorities say she was carrying a computer and other electronics when arrested, but hasn’t been charged with espionage. | Zhang is charged with illegally entering the president’s Florida club in March and then lying to Secret Service agents when confronted. Her trial is scheduled for next month. Authorities say she was carrying a computer and other electronics when arrested, but hasn’t been charged with espionage. |
| She fired her public defenders last month to serve as her own attorney. She remains jailed without bond. | She fired her public defenders last month to serve as her own attorney. She remains jailed without bond. |
| A federal judge in Maryland has denied a motion from the Justice Department to replace its legal team in its ongoing struggle to add a question regarding US citizenship to the 2020 census. | A federal judge in Maryland has denied a motion from the Justice Department to replace its legal team in its ongoing struggle to add a question regarding US citizenship to the 2020 census. |
| Breaking: second federal judge in Maryland has denied @TheJusticeDept motion to replace its Census legal team | Breaking: second federal judge in Maryland has denied @TheJusticeDept motion to replace its Census legal team |
| Over the weekend, the Justice Department announced it wanted to replace its attorneys on the case. A judge denied that change on Tuesday, challenging the department’s assertion the withdrawal of counsel “will [not] cause any disruption.” A second judge denied the changes on Wednesday. | Over the weekend, the Justice Department announced it wanted to replace its attorneys on the case. A judge denied that change on Tuesday, challenging the department’s assertion the withdrawal of counsel “will [not] cause any disruption.” A second judge denied the changes on Wednesday. |
| Trump has threatened to issue an executive order to put the citizenship question on census forms. Critics say it will diminish participation in the census in areas with high immigrant populations. | Trump has threatened to issue an executive order to put the citizenship question on census forms. Critics say it will diminish participation in the census in areas with high immigrant populations. |
| Hello, readers! It’s Kari Paul here in San Francisco taking over the blog for the afternoon. Stay tuned for updates. | Hello, readers! It’s Kari Paul here in San Francisco taking over the blog for the afternoon. Stay tuned for updates. |
| The top news story this afternoon centered on embattled Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who calmly and methodically defended his handling of a plea deal granted to Jeffrey Epstein related to sex crimes charges in Florida over a decade ago. Epstein said he believes his office acted “appropriately” and said he believes his standing with the president is secure. | The top news story this afternoon centered on embattled Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who calmly and methodically defended his handling of a plea deal granted to Jeffrey Epstein related to sex crimes charges in Florida over a decade ago. Epstein said he believes his office acted “appropriately” and said he believes his standing with the president is secure. |
| But the morning began with news that Kim Darroch had resigned after leaked memos sparked an international row between Trump and Britain. The Guardian reported that Darroch made his decision after Boris Johnson, the leading contender for Prime Minister, wavered in his support for the ambassador. | But the morning began with news that Kim Darroch had resigned after leaked memos sparked an international row between Trump and Britain. The Guardian reported that Darroch made his decision after Boris Johnson, the leading contender for Prime Minister, wavered in his support for the ambassador. |
| Today, DC’s mayor Muriel Browser said in a letter to Trump that his Fourth of July event – in addition to the cost of implementing security measures at protests and other related events during the weekend – bankrupted the city’s special security fund. She is asking the federal government for funds to replenish it. | Today, DC’s mayor Muriel Browser said in a letter to Trump that his Fourth of July event – in addition to the cost of implementing security measures at protests and other related events during the weekend – bankrupted the city’s special security fund. She is asking the federal government for funds to replenish it. |
| A House panel heard from a mother whose 21-month-old daughter died in Ice custody. Her powerful testimony moved several lawmakers to tears and provided new insights into the conditions into the detention centers where newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers are kept. | A House panel heard from a mother whose 21-month-old daughter died in Ice custody. Her powerful testimony moved several lawmakers to tears and provided new insights into the conditions into the detention centers where newly arrived migrants and asylum seekers are kept. |
| One fun highlight: The US Women’s soccer team took a victory lap with a ticker tape parade in New York. In her remarks, co-captain Megan Rapinoe ruled out running for president but called on Americans to be kinder and better to one another. Sounds like a stump speech to us. | One fun highlight: The US Women’s soccer team took a victory lap with a ticker tape parade in New York. In her remarks, co-captain Megan Rapinoe ruled out running for president but called on Americans to be kinder and better to one another. Sounds like a stump speech to us. |
| Billionaire activist Tom Steyer is the 25th Democratic presidential candidate many in the party say they didn’t really need. | Billionaire activist Tom Steyer is the 25th Democratic presidential candidate many in the party say they didn’t really need. |
| Steyer’s entry confounded Democrats, not least because he announced six months ago that he wouldn’t run for president. | Steyer’s entry confounded Democrats, not least because he announced six months ago that he wouldn’t run for president. |
| Steyer, a former hedge fund manager, would have been the 26th but fellow Californian, congressman Eric Swalwell, dropped out the day before Steyer jumped in. “It’s rough out there,” Swalwell said when asked what advice he had for the latest entrant. | Steyer, a former hedge fund manager, would have been the 26th but fellow Californian, congressman Eric Swalwell, dropped out the day before Steyer jumped in. “It’s rough out there,” Swalwell said when asked what advice he had for the latest entrant. |
| Steyer’s change of heart essentially boils down to a fear that the Democrats in the race are not bringing the fight to Trump, as he has tried to with a multimillion-dollar campaign to impeach Trump. | Steyer’s change of heart essentially boils down to a fear that the Democrats in the race are not bringing the fight to Trump, as he has tried to with a multimillion-dollar campaign to impeach Trump. |
| “They’ve had one hearing so far, with Michael Cohen, and it was months ago,” Steyer told the Washington Post in an interview. “So yes, I’m frustrated. And really, what I’m saying now is that our politics are broken by corporate money, the solution is pushing power to people, and I am convinced that it will take someone from the outside to do it.” | “They’ve had one hearing so far, with Michael Cohen, and it was months ago,” Steyer told the Washington Post in an interview. “So yes, I’m frustrated. And really, what I’m saying now is that our politics are broken by corporate money, the solution is pushing power to people, and I am convinced that it will take someone from the outside to do it.” |
| Steyer has said he intends to spend $100m on his presidential campaign, a pledge that has earned groans from candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, whose are running to weaken the influence of money in politics. | Steyer has said he intends to spend $100m on his presidential campaign, a pledge that has earned groans from candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, whose are running to weaken the influence of money in politics. |
| The chilly reception begs the question: will Steyer receive at least 65,000 unique donors and poll at 1% in time for the first debate? | The chilly reception begs the question: will Steyer receive at least 65,000 unique donors and poll at 1% in time for the first debate? |
| He sure is trying. | He sure is trying. |
| The highest donor level for an upcoming Tom Steyer event is “enabler,” which is a Freudian slip if ever I’ve seen one pic.twitter.com/cDTttnh8Al | The highest donor level for an upcoming Tom Steyer event is “enabler,” which is a Freudian slip if ever I’ve seen one pic.twitter.com/cDTttnh8Al |
| In a raw moment, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez embraced Yazmin Juárez after her testimony. Ocasio-Cortez asked her several question in Spanish regarding what she saw and experienced in the detention centers. | In a raw moment, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez embraced Yazmin Juárez after her testimony. Ocasio-Cortez asked her several question in Spanish regarding what she saw and experienced in the detention centers. |
| Asked if she felt safe there, Juárez said “no”. | Asked if she felt safe there, Juárez said “no”. |
| Yazmin Juárez embraced by @aoc after her powerful testimony about conditions she says led to death of her 19 month old daughter. pic.twitter.com/Oyflqhj2QT | Yazmin Juárez embraced by @aoc after her powerful testimony about conditions she says led to death of her 19 month old daughter. pic.twitter.com/Oyflqhj2QT |
| In the House oversight committee, Yazmin Juarez, whose 21-month old baby daughter died in ICE custody, delivered searing testimony before Congress this afternoon. | In the House oversight committee, Yazmin Juarez, whose 21-month old baby daughter died in ICE custody, delivered searing testimony before Congress this afternoon. |
| Yazmin Juarez: "We came to the United States where I hoped to build a better safer life for us. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Instead I watched my baby girl die slowly and painfully just a few months before her second birthday."Full video here: https://t.co/usy1p9ZPDe pic.twitter.com/7YYmZs6o6i | Yazmin Juarez: "We came to the United States where I hoped to build a better safer life for us. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Instead I watched my baby girl die slowly and painfully just a few months before her second birthday."Full video here: https://t.co/usy1p9ZPDe pic.twitter.com/7YYmZs6o6i |
| Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta says he believed his team proceeded “appropriately” but won’t say whether he harbors any regrets, saying the goal was to avoid a deal allowing Jeffrey Epstein to “walk free”. | Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta says he believed his team proceeded “appropriately” but won’t say whether he harbors any regrets, saying the goal was to avoid a deal allowing Jeffrey Epstein to “walk free”. |
| “Facts are important, and facts are being overlooked,” Acosta said at a the press conference in Washington. | “Facts are important, and facts are being overlooked,” Acosta said at a the press conference in Washington. |
| Acosta oversaw the department at the time federal prosecutors granted the plea deal to Epstein. | Acosta oversaw the department at the time federal prosecutors granted the plea deal to Epstein. |
| “We did what we did because we wanted to see Epstein go to jail,” Acosta continued. “He needed to go to jail and that was the focus.” | “We did what we did because we wanted to see Epstein go to jail,” Acosta continued. “He needed to go to jail and that was the focus.” |
| During the press conference, Acosta urged more victims to come forward. | During the press conference, Acosta urged more victims to come forward. |
| “The message to victims is: come forward,” Acosta said, saying they should do so “because the justice system needs to hear from them”. | “The message to victims is: come forward,” Acosta said, saying they should do so “because the justice system needs to hear from them”. |
| Asked several times whether he would apologize to the women, Acosta refused. | Asked several times whether he would apologize to the women, Acosta refused. |
| When pressed on his relationship with Trump, Acosta said that they have a good relationship and the president has his back. | When pressed on his relationship with Trump, Acosta said that they have a good relationship and the president has his back. |
| “My relationship with the president is outstanding,” Acosta said, adding that Trump “has made publicly ... that I have his support”. | “My relationship with the president is outstanding,” Acosta said, adding that Trump “has made publicly ... that I have his support”. |
| Acosta on President Trump's reaction to his refusal to step down: "If at some point the President decides that I am not the best person to do this job, I respect that. ... I thought yesterday he was kind, and he showed great support" pic.twitter.com/PcpQcksRBw | Acosta on President Trump's reaction to his refusal to step down: "If at some point the President decides that I am not the best person to do this job, I respect that. ... I thought yesterday he was kind, and he showed great support" pic.twitter.com/PcpQcksRBw |