Former Secretary of StateHillary Clintonistestifying before U.S. House lawmakersin New York as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epstein, kicking off two days of depositions that will also include former PresidentBill Clinton.
State of the Union
The closed-door depositions come aftermonths of tense back-and-forthbetween the former high-powered Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee.
The Clintonsagreed to testifyafter their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by the Oversight panel and its chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., threatenedcriminal contempt of Congress chargesagainst them.
It will be the first time a former president has been forced to testify before Congress — the latest sign that the demand for a reckoning over Epstein's abuse of underage girls has become a near-unstoppable force on Capitol Hill and beyond.
Here's the latest:
Hillary Clinton testifies she has no information on Epstein's criminal activities
Former Secretary of StateHillary Clintonis telling U.S. House lawmakers she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's or Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes.
"I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein," Hillary Clinton said in an opening statement she shared on social media.
Her testimony starts off two days of depositions that will also include former PresidentBill Clinton.
Hillary Clinton's deposition is getting underway
The House Oversight Committee's closed-door deposition of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is getting underway in Chappaqua, New York, as lawmakers start two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton.
Hillary Clinton has previously told the committee she has no memory of ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who killed himself in 2019 while facing charges for sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls.
"There is no indication — zero, zip, zilch, nada — that Secretary Clinton had any knowledge of Epstein's crimes," Rep. James Walkinshaw, a Virginia Democrat, said just before the deposition.
Clinton did have connections to Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, through the Clinton Foundation. Maxwell was also a guest at the 2010 wedding of their daughter Chelsea Clinton.
Democrats call for Trump to answer questions in House Epstein investigation
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are arguing that former President Bill Clinton's appearance for a deposition sets a precedent that should apply to President Donald Trump as well.
" Let's get President Trump in front of our committee to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors," said Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel.
The Republican chair of the committee, Republican Rep. James Comer, has previously said the committee can't deposition Trump because he's a sitting president. Trump, however, has expressed regret that the Clintons are being forced to testify in the committee's probe.
Republicans relishing the chance to question the Clintons
It's hardly the first time congressional Republicans have pressured the Clintons to answer their questions, but this time it comes as both former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are more than a decade removed from public office.
None the less, the Clintons have emerged as a top target for Republicans in the House investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and they were successful in forcing them to appear for depositions in Chappaqua, New York, over the next two days.
"No one's accusing at this moment the Clintons of any wrongdoing," Rep. James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, told reporters just before the deposition for Hillary Clinton began.
Comer added that Republicans were hoping to understand how Epstein accumulated his wealth and influence with high-powered men around the world.
Republican chair pledges long days of depositions for the Clintons
Rep. James Comer, the GOP chair of the House Oversight Committee, previewed lengthy interviews for both Hillary and Bill Clinton as lawmakers question them about Jeffrey Epstein.
"This is going to be a long deposition," Comer told reporters outside the convention center in Chappaqua, New York, where the depositions are being held.
Hillary Clinton has said she doesn't remember ever meeting with Epstein, although she does have some connections to his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.
House Democrats to force war powers vote on Iran
House Democratic leaders say they'll force a vote next week on legislation requiring President Trump to terminate military force against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war from Congress.
The U.S. has gathered a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East and the two nations are engaged in indirect talks to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear program and potentially avert a war.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries was joined in the announcement by several Democrats who serve as the ranking member on committees with jurisdiction.
Their news release says the Iranian regime is "brutal and destabilizing," and cited the killing of thousands of protesters.
"However, undertaking a war of choice in the Middle East, without a full understanding of all the attendant risks to our servicemembers and to escalation, is reckless," the news release stated. "We maintain that any such action would be unconstitutional without consultation with and authorization from Congress."
Trump administration appeals to the Supreme Court in immigration case
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow it to end legal protections for migrants from Syria for now. It's the administration's latest emergency appeal to the nation's highest court.
The government wants the court to lift a New York judge's ruling halting the Department of Homeland Security'sdecision to end temporary protected statusfor Syrians.
The justices have previously allowed immigration authorities to end legal protections for migrants from Venezuela while lawsuits continue to play out. The federal government argued the Syria case is similar.
About 6,000 people from Syria have temporary legal status after fleeing armed conflict. Ending those protections could mean people lose work authorization and be exposed to possible deportation.
White House drug czar is in Mexico following operation that killed powerful cartel leader
Sara Carter, who heads the administration's Office of National Drug Control Policy, is in Mexico for talks with government officials following this week's operation that killedNemesio Oseguera Cervantes,the country's most powerful drug lord.
"The Mexican government is demonstrating a sincere ongoing commitment to the shared counternarcotics cause which has plagued both of our nations for decades," Carter said in a statement. "Defeating the cartels is an ongoing mutual effort necessary for the safety and security of both our nations."
U.S. intelligence officials provided support to the Mexican government for the operation that killed the cartel leader known as "El Mencho," according to the White House.
The operation follows President Trump repeatedly pressing the Mexican government to more aggressively target the country's illegal drug trade. The U.S. president has threatened to send U.S. troops to take out cartels, if Mexico's government can't.
Carter and U.S Ambassador Ronald Johnson have met with Mexico's security cabinet and offered condolences to Mexico's defense secretary, Gen. Ricardo Trevilla, for the deaths of 33 Mexican national guardsmen and three special operations members killed in the operation.
Led by new generation, Democrats prioritize transparency on Epstein over defending former party leaders
Several Democratic lawmakers joined with Republicans on the Oversight panel toadvance the contempt of Congress chargesagainst the Clintons last month. Several said they had no relationship with the Clintons and owed no loyalty to them.
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, said both Republican and Democratic administrations "have failed survivors in not getting more information out to the public." He also said he wanted to ask about Epstein's possible ties to foreign governments.
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Democrats are also coming off an effort this week to confront Trump about his administration's handling of the Epstein files by taking women who survived Epstein's abuse as their guests toTrump's State of the Union address. Even senior Democrats, such as former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, said it was appropriate for the committee to interview anyone, including the former president, who was connected to Epstein.
World Economic Forum head Børge Brende steps down following pressure over Epstein links
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, said in a statement Thursday that he'd decided "after careful consideration" to step down as president and chief executive of the forum, known for itsannual January summitin the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos.
"I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions," Brende said in a statement released by the WEF.
Brende was Norway's foreign minister from 2013-2017 and is one ofseveral prominent Norwegianswho've faced scrutiny following the latest release of Epstein files.
He didn't refer directly to that controversy in Thursday's statement, but the WEF announced earlier this month that it was opening an internal review into Brende to determine his relationship with Epstein after files indicated the two had dined together several times and exchanged messages.
Iran would be outgunned in any war with the US but could still inflict considerable pain
As U.S. forces mass in the Middle East, Iran facesthe threat of major strikesby the world's most powerful military, potentially targeting its leaders, military, nuclear sites and critical infrastructure.
Iran has nowhere near the same capabilities, and is even more vulnerable after last year'swar launched by Israeland recent anti-government protests. But it could still inflict pain onAmerican forcesand allies, and may feel it has to if the Islamic Republic's survival is at stake.
While Iran suffered major losses last June, it still has hundreds of missiles capable of hitting Israel, according to Israel's estimates. Iran boasts a much larger arsenal of shorter-range missiles capable of hitting U.S. bases in Gulf countries and offshore American forces, soon to be joined bya second aircraft carrier.
Iran has previously threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz,a vital waterway for the global oil trade, and claimed to have done so partially during military drills last week.
Slightly more Americans now see Iran and the US as enemies: AP-NORC poll
Most Americans, 61%, say Iran is an "enemy" of the U.S., according to the new AP-NORC poll. That is up slightly from 53% in aPearson Institute/AP-NORC pollconducted in September 2023.
Roughly 3 in 10 Americans currently say the countries are "not friendly, but not enemies," and only about 1 in 10 Americans consider the two nations "friendly" or "close allies."
At the same time, there's a bit of an age gap on that perception. Only about half of U.S. adults under 45 say Iran is an enemy, compared with about 7 in 10 Americans ages 45 and older.
Most US adults have low trust in Trump's judgment on military force: AP-NORC poll
Most Americans have significant reservations about Trump's judgment on foreign conflicts, the AP-NORC poll shows.
Only about 3 in 10 of U.S. adults have "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of trust in Trump's judgment on the use of military force, relationships with U.S. adversaries or the use of nuclear weapons. More than half trust him "only a little" or "not at all."
On each measure, Republicans are more likely than Democrats and Independents to trust that the president will make the right decisions. About 6 in 10 Republicans have a high level of trust in Trump, while roughly 9 in 10 Democrats have a low level of trust in him.
Most Americans see Iran as an enemy but doubt Trump's judgment on military force, AP-NORC poll finds
As the U.S. and Iran head into their next round ofnuclear talks in Geneva, a new AP-NORC poll finds that many U.S. adults continue to view Iran's nuclear program as a threat — but they also don't have high trust in Trump's judgment on the use of military force abroad.
About half of U.S. adults are "extremely" or "very" concerned that Iran's nuclear program poses a direct threat to the United States, according to the new poll fromThe Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 3 in 10 are "moderately" concerned and only about 2 in 10 are "not very" concerned or "not concerned at all."
The survey was conducted Feb. 19-23, asmilitary tensions built in the Middle Eastbetween the United States and Iran. The U.S. is seeking a deal to limit Iran's nuclear program and ensure it does not develop nuclear weapons, while Iran says it is not pursuing weapons and has so far resisted demands that it halt uranium enrichment on its soil or hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
FBI fires agents who worked on Trump classified document investigation, AP sources say
The FBI has fired additional agents who worked on an investigation into Trump, this time terminating employees who participated in the probe into theRepublican's hoarding of classified documents, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
The firings are part of a broader personnel purge under the leadership of Director Kash Patel, a Trump appointee who, over the last year, haspushed out dozens of employeeswho either contributed to investigations of the president or who were perceived as not in alignment with the administration's agenda. The Justice Department hasengaged in similarly sweeping firings of prosecutorssince Trump took office last year.
The FBI Agents Association condemned the firings as unlawful and endangering national security.
"These actions weaken the Bureau by stripping away critical expertise and destabilizing the workforce, undermining trust in leadership and jeopardizing the Bureau's ability to meet its recruitment goals — ultimately putting the nation at greater risk," the association said in a statement.
Witkoff and Kushner are in Geneva for indirect talks with Iran
Iran and the United States began indirect talks Thursday in Geneva over Tehran's nuclear negotiations viewed as a last chance for diplomacy as America has gathered a fleet ofaircraft and warshipsto the Middle East to pressure Tehran into a deal.
Trump wants a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country isstruggling at homewithgrowing dissentfollowingnationwide protestslast month. Iran, meanwhile, has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium even as its program sits in ruins, following Trump ordering an attack in June on three of the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites, part of abruising 12-day warlast year.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchiagain is passing messages to Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate developer and friend of Trump who serves as a special Mideast envoy for the president.These latest talks are againbeing mediated by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that's long served as an interlocutor between Iran and the West.
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Bill and Hillary Clinton, battle-tested, gear up for another Washington fight
TheClintons are slated to testifyThursday and Friday in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, part of a deal with Republicans after it became clear that Congress — with the help of some Democrats — was on track to hold them in contempt if they refused to cooperate. For the battle-hardened couple, it amounts to one more Washington brawl. And like so many of the battles that came before, this one is another mix of questionable judgment, sexual impropriety, money and power.
For those who have long watched the Clintons, this moment is a reminder that the couple — weaned on the politics of the Vietnam War and Watergate — has never been far from the heat of a cultural fight. And with the Epstein case unfolding unpredictably around the world, the Clintons are once again ensnared in the scandal of the moment.
Justice Department says it's reviewing whether any Epstein-related records were mistakenly withheld
The Justice Department said that it was looking into whether it had improperly withheld documents from theJeffrey Epstein filesafter several news organizations reported that some records involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against Trump were not among those released to the public.
The announcement followed news reports saying that a massive tranche of recordsreleased by the Justice Departmentdid not include several summaries of interviews that the FBI conducted with an unidentified woman who came forward after Epstein's 2019 arrest and claimed to have been sexually assaulted by both Trump and Epstein when she was a minor in the 1980s.
"Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing," the Justice Department said in a post on X.
It said that if any document is found to have been improperly withheld and is responsive to the federally enacted law mandating the files' release, "the Department will of course publish it, consistent with the law."