'Prosecutors accuse Epstein of witness tampering – as it happened' diff viewer (19/20)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on July 12, 2019 13:12 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/jul/12/trump-news-today-live-house-hearing-family-separation-latest-us-politics-updates

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Prosecutors accuse Epstein of witness tampering – live	Prosecutors accuse Epstein of witness tampering – live
2019-07-12 23:16:21 UTC	2019-07-12 23:48:20 UTC (32 minutes later)
	Meanwhile, here are some dispatches from the Vice President and other GOP lawmakers’ visit to a migrant detention center along the US-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas.
	According to a report from the press pool present at the visit, nearly 400 men were being “in caged fences with no cots” where “the stench was horrendous.”
	Pool report from @jdawsey1 with @VP and GOP lawmakers on trip to McAllen, Tx, border patrol station. pic.twitter.com/jFv4L8xSwq
	VP saw 384 men sleeping inside fences, on concrete w/no pillows or mats. They said they hadn’t showered in weeks, wanted toothbrushes, food. Stench was overwhelming. CBP said they were fed regularly, could brush daily & recently got access to shower (many hadn’t for 10-20 days.) pic.twitter.com/tHFZYxJF7C
	Agent in charge said there wasn’t room for cots andthe facility didn’t have a shower but got a shower yesterday in an outdoor trailer. Some hadn’t showered for 10 or 20 days. Agent said no one had been there longer than 32 days, but some men told CNN’s Pam Brown and me they had.
The Trump administration filed a request asking the Supreme Court to unfreeze Pentagon funds to build parts of the border wall.	The Trump administration filed a request asking the Supreme Court to unfreeze Pentagon funds to build parts of the border wall.
Two lower courts last week blocked the government from using Defense Department counterdrug money to sections of the wall in Arizona, California and New Mexico.	Two lower courts last week blocked the government from using Defense Department counterdrug money to sections of the wall in Arizona, California and New Mexico.
The AP explains:	The AP explains:
At stake is billions of dollars that would allow President Donald Trump to make progress on a major 2016 campaign promise heading into his race for a second term.	At stake is billions of dollars that would allow President Donald Trump to make progress on a major 2016 campaign promise heading into his race for a second term.
Democratic lawmakers are thus far reacting with dismay to the reports of the FTC fining Facebook $5bn.	Democratic lawmakers are thus far reacting with dismay to the reports of the FTC fining Facebook $5bn.
Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon who has been a leader on privacy issues, released a statement comparing the fine to a “mosquito bite”, saying:	Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon who has been a leader on privacy issues, released a statement comparing the fine to a “mosquito bite”, saying:
Despite Republicans’ promises to hold big tech accountable, the FTC appears to have failed miserably at its best opportunity to do so. No level of corporate fine can replace the necessity to hold Mark Zuckerberg personally responsible for the flagrant, repeated violations of Americans’ privacy. That said, this reported fine is a mosquito bite to a corporation the size of Facebook. And I fear it will let Facebook off the hook for more recent abuses of Americans’ data that may not have been factored in to this inadequate settlement. The only way to assure Americans that our private data will be protected is to pass a strong privacy bill, like the one I plan to introduce in the coming weeks.	Despite Republicans’ promises to hold big tech accountable, the FTC appears to have failed miserably at its best opportunity to do so. No level of corporate fine can replace the necessity to hold Mark Zuckerberg personally responsible for the flagrant, repeated violations of Americans’ privacy. That said, this reported fine is a mosquito bite to a corporation the size of Facebook. And I fear it will let Facebook off the hook for more recent abuses of Americans’ data that may not have been factored in to this inadequate settlement. The only way to assure Americans that our private data will be protected is to pass a strong privacy bill, like the one I plan to introduce in the coming weeks.
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) was similarly unimpressed:	Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) was similarly unimpressed:
Given Facebook’s repeated privacy violations, it is clear that fundamental structural reforms are required. With the FTC either unable or unwilling to put in place reasonable guardrails to ensure that user privacy and data are protected, it’s time for Congress to act.	Given Facebook’s repeated privacy violations, it is clear that fundamental structural reforms are required. With the FTC either unable or unwilling to put in place reasonable guardrails to ensure that user privacy and data are protected, it’s time for Congress to act.
Congressman David Cicilline, who chairs the House subcommittee on antitrust, also criticized the settlement. Cicilline will have a chance to question a Facebook executive on Tuesday when representatives of several major Silicon Valley companies testify at a hearing of the antitrust committee.	Congressman David Cicilline, who chairs the House subcommittee on antitrust, also criticized the settlement. Cicilline will have a chance to question a Facebook executive on Tuesday when representatives of several major Silicon Valley companies testify at a hearing of the antitrust committee.
It’s very disappointing that such an enormously powerful company that engaged in such serious misconduct is getting a slap on the wrist.	It’s very disappointing that such an enormously powerful company that engaged in such serious misconduct is getting a slap on the wrist.
Facebook to be fined $5bn for Cambridge Analytica privacy violations – reports	Facebook to be fined $5bn for Cambridge Analytica privacy violations – reports
The Washington DC attorney general has issued subpoenas to the National Rifle Association as part of an investigation looking into financial misconduct allegations against the powerful gun lobbying organization.	The Washington DC attorney general has issued subpoenas to the National Rifle Association as part of an investigation looking into financial misconduct allegations against the powerful gun lobbying organization.
This adds to a growing mountain of troubles the NRA is facing, the AP reports:	This adds to a growing mountain of troubles the NRA is facing, the AP reports:
The NRA is involved in a number of legal tangles, some that threaten its very future. The New York attorney general’s office is similarly investigating to determine if it has run afoul of laws that govern its nonprofit status. The NRA is chartered out of New York, while the NRA Foundation is chartered out of Washington.	The NRA is involved in a number of legal tangles, some that threaten its very future. The New York attorney general’s office is similarly investigating to determine if it has run afoul of laws that govern its nonprofit status. The NRA is chartered out of New York, while the NRA Foundation is chartered out of Washington.
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee also has launched an investigation into the NRA’s operations.	The U.S. Senate Finance Committee also has launched an investigation into the NRA’s operations.
At the same time, there is an ongoing factional war within the NRA, pitting some of its most ardent gun-rights supporters and loyalists against one another. The NRA has traded lawsuits with Ackerman McQueen, its longtime marketing firm that crafted some of its most prominent messages for decades. Months after filing its first lawsuit against the Oklahoma-based firm, the NRA officially severed ties last month.	At the same time, there is an ongoing factional war within the NRA, pitting some of its most ardent gun-rights supporters and loyalists against one another. The NRA has traded lawsuits with Ackerman McQueen, its longtime marketing firm that crafted some of its most prominent messages for decades. Months after filing its first lawsuit against the Oklahoma-based firm, the NRA officially severed ties last month.
Another interesting tidbit: Prosecutors say they’ve obtained documents indicating that he’s worth more than $500,000, and earns at least $10,000,000 per year.	Another interesting tidbit: Prosecutors say they’ve obtained documents indicating that he’s worth more than $500,000, and earns at least $10,000,000 per year.
The financier has been described (and has described himself) as a billionaire, but his true net worth has been somewhat mysterious.	The financier has been described (and has described himself) as a billionaire, but his true net worth has been somewhat mysterious.
Because of his access to copious funds, the prosecutors argue that Epstein could be a flight risk.	Because of his access to copious funds, the prosecutors argue that Epstein could be a flight risk.
More from the letter:	More from the letter:
[E]ven were the defendant to sacrifice literally all of his current assets, there is every indication that he would immediately be able to resume making millions or tens of millions of dollars per year outside of the United States. He already earns at least $10,000,000 per year, according to records from Institution-1, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, traveling extensively abroad, and residing in part in Paris, France; there would be little to stop the defendant from fleeing, transferring his unknown assets abroad, and then continuing to do whatever it is he does to earn his vast wealth from a computer terminal beyond the reach of extradition	[E]ven were the defendant to sacrifice literally all of his current assets, there is every indication that he would immediately be able to resume making millions or tens of millions of dollars per year outside of the United States. He already earns at least $10,000,000 per year, according to records from Institution-1, while living in the U.S. Virgin Islands, traveling extensively abroad, and residing in part in Paris, France; there would be little to stop the defendant from fleeing, transferring his unknown assets abroad, and then continuing to do whatever it is he does to earn his vast wealth from a computer terminal beyond the reach of extradition
The allegation that Jeffrey Epstein engaged in witness tampering was detailed in a letter that federal prosecutors filed today arguing that the financier should not be granted bail.	The allegation that Jeffrey Epstein engaged in witness tampering was detailed in a letter that federal prosecutors filed today arguing that the financier should not be granted bail.
They write that Epstein “demonstrated a willingness to use intimidation and aggressive tactics in connection with a criminal investigation.” The document details that he transferred $250,000 an employee and $100,000 to another person -- both of whom were identified as possible “co-conspirators.”	They write that Epstein “demonstrated a willingness to use intimidation and aggressive tactics in connection with a criminal investigation.” The document details that he transferred $250,000 an employee and $100,000 to another person -- both of whom were identified as possible “co-conspirators.”
Here are some more selections from the document:	Here are some more selections from the document:
Federal prosecutors tell judge about money transfers to potential witnesses https://t.co/I06Si0018X pic.twitter.com/H9iSagupcZ	Federal prosecutors tell judge about money transfers to potential witnesses https://t.co/I06Si0018X pic.twitter.com/H9iSagupcZ
Federal prosecutors say that Jeffrey Epstein, the financier charged with sex-trafficking in New York, wired $350,000 to two people who were potential witnesses against him.	Federal prosecutors say that Jeffrey Epstein, the financier charged with sex-trafficking in New York, wired $350,000 to two people who were potential witnesses against him.
The New York Times is reporting:	The New York Times is reporting:
Mr. Epstein sent the money to the potential witnesses in late November and early December, 2018, shortly after the Miami Herald published an investigative report about a secret deal he had reached with the authorities in Florida to avoid federal prosecution, prosecutors said.	Mr. Epstein sent the money to the potential witnesses in late November and early December, 2018, shortly after the Miami Herald published an investigative report about a secret deal he had reached with the authorities in Florida to avoid federal prosecution, prosecutors said.
The United States attorney’s office in Manhattan made the new allegations in a court filing asking that Mr. Epstein be denied bail while he awaits trial, saying the payments were evidence that he might try to influence witnesses if he were not detained.	The United States attorney’s office in Manhattan made the new allegations in a court filing asking that Mr. Epstein be denied bail while he awaits trial, saying the payments were evidence that he might try to influence witnesses if he were not detained.
The Trump administration is within its rights to punish so-called “sanctuary cities” by withholding grants from police departments that refuse to work with federal immigration enforcement authorities, a federal appeals court decided.	The Trump administration is within its rights to punish so-called “sanctuary cities” by withholding grants from police departments that refuse to work with federal immigration enforcement authorities, a federal appeals court decided.
This means that the Justice Department is allowed to reward police departments that share records with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.	This means that the Justice Department is allowed to reward police departments that share records with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
LA Times reports:	LA Times reports: