Dozens of Jeffrey Epstein court documents unsealed, naming high-profile figures: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 4, 2024
Dozens of court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein are unsealed to the public. And the Justice Department is suing Texas over its new immigration law. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.
Previously sealed Jeffrey Epstein court documents released
Hundreds of pages of previously sealed court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the millionaire who was charged with sex trafficking, were released to the public for the first time Wednesday evening, Jan. 3.
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The 40 documents, of around 250 that are expected to be unsealed in days ahead, largely mentioned high-profile figures that have already been known, names of Epstein’s friends and victims who have spoken publicly. The documents are being unsealed as part of a lawsuit filed by alleged victim Virginia Giuffre against Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for helping recruit underage victims for Epstein. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The released documents include previously reported deposition transcripts by one of the girls hired by Maxwell, which mentioned former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, neither of whom is accused of wrongdoing. A Clinton spokesperson responded to the release of the documents, referring to a 2019 statement that said the former president had flown on Epstein’s private plane but had no knowledge of his “terrible crimes.”
Trump did not immediately respond but had previously said he had not been in touch with Epstein for 15 years before his death. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial. Other names in the document include Prince Andrew. Giuffre settled a lawsuit against him in 2022.
The judge, who decided what should be unsealed, said she ordered the release of the records because much of the information is already public. When all documents are unsealed, they are expected to include nearly 200 names, including accusers, well-known businesspeople, and politicians.
Imam dies after being shot outside New Jersey mosque
Police in New Jersey continue to search for the shooter who killed an Imam outside of a mosque while as they also look to determine a motive. The fatal shooting occurred around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, in Newark. Police said the Imam, Hassan Sharif, was shot multiple times. Sharif was taken to the hospital in critical condition but died hours later. Authorities said preliminary evidence indicated the shooting was not motivated by bias or was an act of domestic terrorism.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said the motive is still being investigated. Platkin said security at houses of worship in the state has been ramped up amid growing reports of threats and violence against Muslims and Jews in America since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October.
Justice Department sues Texas over immigration law
Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, signed a bill into law that allows local police to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally. Now, the Justice Department is taking Texas to court over it.
I like my chances.
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott, R
The law has already been met with a lot of opposition; some critics said it could lead to racial profiling, and some sheriffs said it would overwhelm local jails and courts. The DOJ asked a federal court in Austin, Texas, to rule that the new law is unconstitutional as it violates the Supremacy Clause, which establishes that federal laws take precedence over state laws.
“Texas cannot run its own immigration system. Its efforts, through SB 4, intrude on the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate the entry and removal of noncitizens, frustrate the United States’ immigration operations and proceedings, and interfere with U.S. foreign relations,” the lawsuit said.
Meanwhile, Abbott contends that the law is necessary as he called President Biden out for inaction as migrants continue to flood the southern border at record numbers. Abbot said that Texas has been left to fend for itself. In a post on “X” referring to the lawsuit, Abbot said, “I like my chances.”
Trump challenges Colorado’s decision to bar him from 2024 ballot
As the 2024 presidential primary rapidly approaches, former President Donald Trump is focused on multiple fronts, from civil litigation to criminal charges and eligibility challenges brought in two states, Maine and Colorado, where he has been deemed ineligible to hold public office and barred from the ballot.
By considering the question of President Trump’s eligibility and barring him from the ballot, the Colorado Supreme Court arrogated Congress’ authority.
Trump’s legal team
Trump is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on Colorado’s Supreme Court ruling taking him off the ballot. Colorado’s landmark Dec. 19 ruling is the first time a presidential candidate has been disqualified under the 14th Amendment insurrection clause. Trump’s team contends that individual states do not have the authority to determine eligibility of presidential candidates, arguing that authority is reserved for the United States Congress.
“By considering the question of President Trump’s eligibility and barring him from the ballot, the Colorado Supreme Court arrogated Congress’ authority,” Trump’s team wrote.
The challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court follows a similar challenge to Colorado’s ruling by the state’s GOP. Colorado has paused the decision until the Supreme Court makes its ruling; the Colorado presidential primary is slated for March 5.
FDA investigating reports of Ozempic side effects of hair loss, suicidal thoughts
The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it is looking into three possible side effects that could be linked to a group of medications that have soared in popularity as weight loss aides. These drugs include:
- Ozempic
- Moujaro
- Wegovy
The FDA said it is evaluating reports of side effects such as hair loss, aspiration, and suicidal thoughts in people taking these medications. These drugs have been approved to treat diabetes or weight loss. The FDA said while investigating these reported side effects, the agency has not concluded the drugs have these risks. Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, said it stands behind the safety of its medicines when they are used as indicated.
U-Haul report: Most Americans who moved in 2023 headed to Texas
Most Americans who decided to pick things up, rent a moving truck, and move to a different state in 2023 headed for Texas. That’s according to U-Haul, as the moving equipment company on Wednesday, Jan. 3, released its annual growth index report, which tracks the net gain of one-way equipment U-Haul trucks arriving in a state in a calendar year.
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It was the third consecutive year Texas netted the largest number of movers. Florida ranked second, followed by North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. California saw the most one-way U-Haul trucks leaving the state. U-Haul said that while its growth index is based on more than 2.5 million moving transactions each year and indicates how well states attract new residents, it does not correlate directly to population or economic growth.
Tags: 2024 Elections, Bill Clinton, California, Colorado, Department of Justice, Donald Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, Greg Abbott, Hamas, Israel, Jeffrey Epstein, Jewish, Joe Biden, Muslim, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ozempic, South Carolina, Supreme Court, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S.-Mexico Border
DOZENS OF COURT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN ARE UNSEALED TO THE PUBLIC
AND — THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS SUING TEXAS OVER ITS NEW IMMIGRATION LAW
THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.
TODAY IS THURSDAY, JANUARY 4TH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I’M KARAH RUCKER
HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF PREVIOUSLY SEALED COURT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN –THE MILLIONAIRE WHO WAS CHARGED WITH SEX TRAFFICKING — HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THE 40 DOCUMENTS — OF AROUND 250 THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE UNSEALED IN DAYS AHEAD –
LARGELY MENTIONED HIGH-PROFILE FIGURES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN KNOWN –
NAMES OF EPSTEIN’S FRIENDS AND VICTIMS WHO HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY.
THE DOCUMENTS ARE BEING UNSEALED AS PART OF A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST EPSTEIN’S FORMER GIRLFRIEND – GHISLAINE MAXWELL.
MAXWELL WAS CONVICTED IN 2021 FOR HELPING RECRUIT UNDERAGE VICTIMS FOR EPSTEIN.
SHE IS SERVING A 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE.
THE RELEASED DOCUMENTS INCLUDE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED DEPOSITION TRANSCRIPTS BY ONE OF THE GIRLS HIRED BY MAXWELL—
WHICH MENTIONED FORMER PRESIDENTS BILL CLINTON AND DONALD TRUMP – NEITHER OF WHOM ARE ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING.
A CLINTON SPOKESPERSON RESPONDED TO THE DOCUMENTS RELEASE – SAYING THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAD FLOWN ON EPSTEIN’S PRIVATE PLANE BUT HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF HIS “TERRIBLE CRIMES.”
TRUMP DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND – BUT HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID HE HAD NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH EPSTEIN FOR 15 YEARS BEFORE HIS DEATH.
EPSTEIN DIED BY SUICIDE IN 2019 WHILE AWAITING TRIAL.
OTHER NAMES IN THE DOCUMENT INCLUDE PRINCE ANDREW.
GIUFRRE SETTLED A LAWSUIT AGAINST HIM IN 2022.
THE JUDGE WHO DECIDED WHAT SHOULD BE UNSEALED – SAID SHE WAS ORDERING THE RELEASE OF THE RECORDS BECAUSE MUCH OF THE INFORMATION WITHIN THEM IS ALREADY PUBLIC.
WHEN ALL DOCUMENTS ARE UNSEALED THEY ARE EXPECTED TO INCLUDE NEARLY 200 NAMES – INCLUDING ACCUSERS, WELL-KNOWN BUSINESSPEOPLE AND POLITICIANS.
POLICE IN NEW JERSEY ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR THE SHOOTER WHO KILLED AN IMAM (E-MOM) OUTSIDE A MOSQUE – WHILE ALSO TRYING TO DETERMINE A MOTIVE.
THE FATAL SHOOTING OCCURRED AROUND 6 A.M. WEDNESDAY IN NEWARK.
POLICE SAY THE IMAM – HASSAN SHARIF (SHAR–EEF) – WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES.
HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION BUT DIED HOURS LATER.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE SHOOTING DOES NOT LOOK TO BE MOTIVATED BY BIAS OR AN ACT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.
NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL MATTHEW PLATKIN SAYS THE MOTIVE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED.
PLATKIN SAYS SECURITY AT HOUSES OF WORSHIP IN THE STATE HAS BEEN RAMPED UP AMID GROWING REPORTS OF THREATS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST MUSLIMS AND JEWS IN AMERICA SINCE THE START OF THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS IN OCTOBER.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS SUING TEXAS OVER A BILL GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT SIGNED INTO LAW LAST MONTH THAT ALLOWS LOCAL POLICE TO ARREST MIGRANTS WHO CROSS THE BORDER ILLEGALLY.
THE LAW HAS ALREADY BEEN MET WITH OPPOSITION, SOME CRITICS SAYING IT COULD LEAD TO RACIAL PROFILING AND SOME SHERIFFS SAYING IT WILL OVERWHELM LOCAL JAILS AND COURTS.
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING A FEDERAL COURT IN AUSTIN TO RULE THAT THE NEW LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL — SAYING IT VIOLATES THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE WHICH ESTABLISHES THAT FEDERAL LAWS TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE STATE.
IN ITS LAWSUIT THE DOJ SAYS
“Texas cannot run its own immigration system. Its efforts, through Senate Bill 4, intrude on the federal government’s exclusive authority to regulate the entry and removal of noncitizens, frustrate the United States’ immigration operations and proceedings, and interfere with U.S. foreign relations.”
ABBOTT CONTENDS THAT THE LAW IS NECESSARY AS HE CALLED PRESIDENT BIDEN OUT FOR INACTION AS MIGRANTS CONTINUE TO FLOOD THE SOUTHERN BORDER AT RECORD NUMBERS. ABBOT SAID TEXAS HAS BEEN LEFT TO FEND FOR ITSELF.
IN A POST ON X REFERRING TO THE LAWSUIT ABBOT SAID HE LIKES HIS CHANCES.
A DAY AFTER DONALD TRUMP APPEALED MAINE’S RULING THAT IS KEEPING HIM OFF THE PRIMARY BALLOT —
THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS NOW ASKED THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO WEIGH IN ON A SIMILAR DECISION IN COLORADO.
THE LANDMARK RULING BY THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT LAST MONTH WAS THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING THE PRESIDENCY UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT KNOWN AS THE INSURRECTION CLAUSE.
TRUMP’S TEAM CONTENDS THAT INDIVIDUAL STATES DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, ARGUING THAT AUTHORITY IS RESERVED FOR THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
THE CHALLENGE TO THE U-S SUPREME COURT FOLLOWS AN APPEAL BY THE COLORADO REPUBLICAN PARTY LAST WEEK.
TRUMP’S NAME REMAINS ON THE BALLOT FOR NOW IN MAINE AND COLORADO AS THE APPEAL PROCESS PLAYS OUT.
COLORADO’S PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IS SET FOR MARCH 5TH.
THE FDA HAS ANNOUNCED IT IS LOOKING INTO THREE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS THAT COULD BE LINKED TO A GROUP OF MEDICATIONS THAT HAVE SOARED IN POPULARITY AS WEIGHT LOSS AIDES.
THESE DRUGS INCLUDE OZEMPIC, MON-JAHRO, AND WEGOVY.
THE FDA SAYS IT IS EVALUATING REPORTS OF SIDE EFFECTS SUCH AS ALOPECIA WHICH IS A HAIR LOSS CONDITION —
ASPIRATION WHICH IS a complication during surgery when people inhale food into their airway —
AND POTENTIAL SUICIDAL THOUGHTS FROM TAKING THE MEDICATION.
THE FDA HAS NOT CONCLUDED THE DRUGS DO HAVE THESE RISKS.
THESE DRUGS HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO TREAT DIABETES OR WEIGHT LOSS.
NOVO NORDISK — THE COMPANY BEHIND OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY — SAYS IT STANDS BEHIND THE SAFETY OF ITS MEDICINES WHEN THEY ARE TAKEN PROPERLY.
FINALLY THIS MORNING — MOST AMERICANS WHO DECIDED TO PICK THINGS UP, RENT A MOVING TRUCK, AND MOVE TO A DIFFERENT STATE IN 2023 HEADED FOR TEXAS.
THAT’S ACCORDING TO U-HAUL – AS THE MOVING COMPANY RELEASED ITS ANNUAL GROWTH INDEX REPORT – WHICH TRACKS ONE-WAY U-HAULS ARRIVING IN STATES.
THIS IS NOTHING NEW.
IT’S THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR TEXAS SAW THE LARGEST NUMBER OF MOVERS.
THE STATE THAT RANKED SECOND? FLORIDA.
FOLLOWED BY NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE.
THE STATE WITH THE MOST UHAULS HEADING OUT WAS CALIFORNIA.
THIS DATA IS ONLY BASED OFF U-HAULS MOVING AROUND THE COUNTRY —
WHICH MEANS IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY DIRECTLY CORRELATE WITH POPULATION GROWTH.
THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS THURSDAY.
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