Month: February 2026

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told members of the House Oversight Committee on Thursday that she has no firsthand or new information about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The deposition of Mrs. Clinton follow months of disputes between the Clintons and the committee, including threats of contempt proceedings before an agreement was reached for in-person testimony.  Testifying behind closed doors in Chappaqua, New York on Thursday, Clinton repeated the statement she submitted under oath in January: “As I stated in my sworn declaration on January 13, I had no idea about their criminal activities,” she said. “I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island homes or offices. I have nothing to add to that.”

Clinton accused the Republican-led panel of staging a partisan distraction, rather than pursuing meaningful reforms. She noted that a serious investigation into human trafficking would focus on systemic failures that allowed Epstein to avoid severe punishment in 2008. Clinton went on to argue that lawmakers “compelled me to testify, fully aware that I have no knowledge that would assist your investigation, in order to distract attention from President Trump’s actions and to cover them up despite legitimate calls for answers.“

Committee Chairman James Comer said before the deposition that “no one’s accusing, at this moment, the Clintons of any wrongdoing,” but that investigators still have questions about how Epstein amassed his wealth, built relationships with powerful individuals and operated for years without greater scrutiny. Comer said transcripts and video of the interview would be released after review. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify as well.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has not been charged. His name, like those of other prominent figures, appears in Justice Department files released under a 2025 transparency law. Democrats on the committee signaled they would use the precedent to seek testimony from Trump. Rep. Robert Garcia said lawmakers should question anyone whose name appears extensively in the files, regardless of party.

Previously released photographs showed Bill Clinton with Epstein and Maxwell, though the location and context remain unclear. A spokesperson for the former president has said he flew on Epstein’s plane four times in 2002 and 2003 for trips connected to his foundation. In a sworn declaration, Bill Clinton said, “I have no recollection of when I first met Ms. Maxwell, though I believe she was working for Mr. Epstein at the time,” and added that he does not remember when he last saw her, describing it as many years ago.

Hillary Clinton has said she met Maxwell only “on a few occasions” through foundation-related events and had no “personal knowledge” of criminal conduct. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2021 sex trafficking conviction, has said she never saw either Bill Clinton or Trump engage in inappropriate behavior.

Meanwhile, some Republicans indicated they planned to press Clinton about Maxwell’s attendance at Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding and about any connections between Epstein and the Clinton Foundation. Comer noted that while there are questions about those associations, none amount to allegations of criminal conduct.

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A student at Columbia University who was taken into custody by federal agents Thursday morning has been released following intervention from President Trump, according to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The student, Elaina (Ellie) Aghayeva, an Azerbaijani national studying neuroscience and political science, was detained inside her campus residence on West 121st Street. A Department of Homeland Security official identified Aghayeva as an Azerbaijani citizen and stated that her student visa had been terminated in 2016 during the Obama administration for failing to attend classes. However, a statement shared by her friends through the American Association of University Professors described her as a current international student in good standing.

Aghayeva’s attorney filed a habeas corpus petition in the Southern District of New York, asserting that she entered the U.S. around 2016 on a visa and had not been given a reason for her detention. The filing also noted that her building manager and roommate allowed officers into the apartment and that she had no pending immigration appeals or applications.

After meeting with Trump at the White House, Mamdani said he raised concerns about Aghayeva’s detention. Later, the Mayor announced on social media that the president had informed him she would be freed promptly. “In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently,” Mamdani wrote.

Aghayeva also confirmed her release shortly before 4 p.m., posting on Instagram that she was on her way back to campus. “I am so grateful for everyone of you. I just got out a little while ago. I am safe and ok,” she wrote, adding, “I am in complete shock over what happened…”

Columbia University also posted on social media: “The University is relieved and thrilled that our student, Ellie, has been released from detainment. We will share additional details this evening.”

As reported earlier in the day, Aghayeva was taken into custody by Department of Homeland Security agents Thursday morning, after officers entered a campus residence hall under disputed circumstances, according to university officials. In a message to the campus community, Acting President Claire Shipman said federal agents arrived at a university-owned dormitory around 6:30 a.m. and removed a student from the building. She wrote, “Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing person,’” adding that administrators are seeking additional details, contacting the student’s family, and arranging legal assistance.

Shipman used the incident to remind students and staff of campus protocols, emphasizing that law enforcement must present a judicial warrant or subpoena to enter nonpublic university spaces such as dormitories or classrooms. “An administrative warrant is not sufficient. Do not allow them to enter or accept service of a warrant or subpoena,” she added, noting that the university’s legal counsel would coordinate any response.

Columbia has repeatedly found itself at the center of political controversy, with federal agents active on campus before. Last year, Homeland Security executed search warrants at two university residences, though no arrests were made at the time. The searches occurred shortly after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student and Palestinian activist. Khalil spent three months in immigration detention before being released in June amid protests and a legal fight. His attorneys argued the detention was unconstitutional retaliation for his political views. However, an appeals court later ruled he must continue through immigration proceedings before challenging the legality of his detention.

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The United States Department of the Treasury announced a fresh wave of sanctions Wednesday, targeting more than 30 individuals, companies and vessels accused of helping Iran generate oil revenue and advance its missile and weapons programs.

The measures, issued by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), focus heavily on Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet” — aging tankers that move sanctioned crude using opaque ownership structures and minimal insurance. Twelve ships were named, including the Hoot, Ocean Koi, North Star, Felicita, Ateela 1, Ateela 2, Niba, Luma, Remiz, Danuta 1, Alaa and Gas Fate, along with their operators. U.S. officials say the vessels have transported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products.

Several maritime and trading firms in Europe and the Middle East were also blacklisted, as were networks in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates accused of securing precursor chemicals and sensitive equipment tied to weapons manufacturing. Among the entities cited were Qods Aviation Industries — previously sanctioned — and companies allegedly involved in drone production for Iranian military branches and overseas buyers. Four individuals connected to Qods Aviation Industries were included in the action.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement: “Iran exploits financial systems to sell illicit oil, launder the proceeds, procure components for its nuclear and conventional weapons programs and support its terrorist proxies. Treasury will continue to put maximum pressure on Iran to target the regime’s weapons capabilities and support for terrorism, which it has prioritized over the lives of the Iranian people.”

The sanctions block any U.S.-based assets tied to those listed and prohibit American citizens and companies from conducting business with them. While many of the targets are unlikely to hold U.S. funds, the move reinforces Washington’s broader economic pressure campaign.

The action comes as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Tehran ahead of renewed nuclear talks in Geneva, mediated by Oman. Tehran maintains its nuclear work is for peaceful energy purposes. However, prior to recent U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites, Iran had enriched uranium to 60% purity — a technical step below weapons-grade levels.

The Trump administration has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East and warned of potential force if Iran refuses to curb its nuclear ambitions. In his State of the Union address, Trump reiterated that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, saying, “We wiped it out and they want to start all over again. And they’re at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions,” and adding, “We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon.”

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Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announced that he will leave his faculty and academic roles at Harvard University at the close of the academic year,  as scrutiny continues over his past association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Harvard Crimson was first to report the news of Summers resignation.

Summers, who has been on leave since November, is retiring from his professorship and relinquishing his position as co-director of Harvard’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. A university spokesperson said that the decision was made “in connection with the ongoing review by the University of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were recently released by the government.”

In a statement, Summers said, “I have made the difficult decision to retire from my Harvard professorship at the end of this academic year,” adding, “I will always be grateful to the thousands of students and colleagues I have been privileged to teach and work with since coming to Harvard as a graduate student 50 years ago.” He also said that, after retiring, he hopes to return eventually to research and commentary on global economic issues.

Summers, who led Harvard from 2001 to 2006, previously served as Treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001. He later worked as director of the National Economic Council during the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011.

His departure follows the release of emails and other materials from Epstein’s estate by the House Oversight Committee and the Justice Department. While Summers has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing, the documents revealed that Summers remained in contact with Epstein for years, including after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea in Florida on charges related to soliciting a minor (but before his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges). Flight logs show Summers traveled multiple times on Epstein’s plane, and Harvard received millions of dollars in donations from Epstein before that plea.

In November, Summers said he was “deeply ashamed” of maintaining communication with Epstein and announced he was stepping back from public engagements. He resigned from several outside roles, including the board of OpenAI and advisory positions at major media and financial institutions. He was also barred for life from the American Economic Association.

Epstein died by suicide in a New York federal jail in 2019. Despite scrutiny, there is no public evidence linking Summers to any of Epstein’s crimes, and no survivors have accused him of misconduct.  Harvard has not disclosed details about Summers’ departure package or whether termination was considered. For now, he will remain on leave and will not teach or take on new students before his retirement becomes official.

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In a speech that set a new personal record at 1 hour and 48 minutes, President Donald Trump painted a triumphant picture of the country during his first official State of the Union address of his second term. Speaking under the banner “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected,” he declared, “Our nation is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before. After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages. It is indeed a turnaround for the ages.”

The address came as public polling shows slipping support for the president on key issues, particularly the economy, with midterm elections less than nine months away. Trump devoted much of the night to economic themes, insisting, “The roaring economy is roaring like never before,” and pointing to what he described as lower gas prices, a surging stock market and oil shipments from Venezuela.

He also defended his tariff policies, despite a recent 6-3 ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States that found he overstepped his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Calling the decision “unfortunate,” Trump maintained the tariffs “took in hundreds of billions of dollars to make great deals for our country,” adding that they caused “no inflation” and spurred “tremendous growth.”

Democrats quickly disputed those claims. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X, “Higher costs, tariff taxes, higher healthcare premiums — how is this making life more affordable for Americans?” Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked, “Donald Trump called this the ‘golden age of America.’ For who?” Rep. Brendan Boyle criticized the tariffs as a “national sales tax.”

Trump also announced a plan requiring major tech companies to generate their own power to offset rising electricity demand from AI data centers, promising household rates would not increase and could even fall.

On immigration, Trump sharply rebuked Democrats, accusing them of enabling what he called a “border invasion.” He blamed them for a partial shutdown that has stalled funding for the Department of Homeland Security, where lawmakers are seeking new guardrails for masked agents conducting immigration enforcement operations.

Challenging Democrats to stand if they believed “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” Trump chastised those who remained seated: “You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.” The remark triggered jeers from several lawmakers, including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Norma Torres, amid controversy over deaths linked to enforcement actions.

Turning abroad, Trump said his “preference” is diplomacy with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions, while pledging he would “never” allow the country to acquire a nuclear weapon. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain — I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

During the speech, Trump honored Olympic gold medalists from the U.S. men’s hockey team, fresh off their victory over Canada in Milan — the program’s first gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” He announced that several players, including Jack and Quinn Hughes and Connor Hellebuyck, would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In addition, Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams and Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover, joking afterward about giving the decoration to himself.

Closing on a sweeping historical note, Trump said, “These first 250 years were just the beginning,” adding that the “golden age of America is now upon us.” He declared, “The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended — it still continues, because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the hearts of every American patriot.”

He did not address the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, though several survivors and their families attended as guests of Democratic lawmakers.

In the official Democratic response, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger argued that “we did not hear the truth from our president,” focusing her remarks on affordability and accusing the administration of creating instability. Her rebuttal underscored Democrats’ broader campaign message heading into the midterms: that everyday costs, not rhetoric, remain voters’ top concern.

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More than three weeks after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, her daughter Savannah Guthrie is making a heartfelt appeal to the public — and backing it with a substantial reward. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing after she failed to appear at a friend’s home to watch a livestreamed church service. In the weeks since, the family has posted updates online, at times addressing individuals who sent a ransom note to a local TV station demanding bitcoin.

In an emotional video shared Tuesday, the “Today” co-anchor announced that her family is offering up to $1 million for information that leads to the recovery of her 84-year-old mother, who investigators say was abducted from her Tucson home in the early hours of Feb. 1.

Guthrie said through tears: “It is Day 24 since our mom was taken in the dark of night from her bed, and every hour and minute and second and every long night has been agony since then of worrying about her and fearing for her and aching for her and most of all just missing her.” While the family continues to hold onto hope, she acknowledged the painful uncertainty surrounding the case. “We still believe in a miracle,” she said. “We also know she may be lost. She may be gone.” At one point, Guthrie reflected that her mother may have “already gone home to the Lord that she loves and is dancing in heaven with her mom and her dad and with her beloved brother Pierce and with our daddy. If this is what is to be, then we will accept it. But we need to know where she is.”

The newly announced family reward, combined with a previously offered $100,000 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, brings the total potential reward to $1.2 million. According to sources familiar with the decision, the family had been prepared to fund the reward earlier but initially followed advice to wait.  Investigators have released doorbell camera images showing a masked individual wearing gloves outside Nancy Guthrie’s home and appearing to tamper with a security camera. A glove recovered near the property contained unknown DNA that did not match profiles in a federal database. Authorities are now exploring genetic genealogy as a possible avenue for identifying a suspect. Law enforcement officials have also confirmed that Guthrie’s siblings and their spouses have been cleared.

The Guthries are also seeking to support others facing similar heartbreak, with the family announcing a $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “We know there are millions of families that have suffered with this kind of uncertainty,” Guthrie said, expressing hope that the attention surrounding her mother’s disappearance will shine a light on other missing persons cases. As she closed her message, Guthrie made one final plea: “Somebody know. And we are begging you to come forward now. Tell what you know and help us bring our beloved mom home so we can either celebrate the glorious, miraculous homecoming or celebrate the beautiful, brave and courageous and noble life that she has lived. Please be the light in the dark.”

The FBI in Phoenix said in a statement on Tuesday, “If you have firsthand knowledge of Nancy’s whereabouts or any information about where she may be located, please contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). To help keep the tip line available for actionable investigative law enforcement leads, please submit only serious and detailed fact-based information – no well-wishes or case theories. The tip line is not for personal messages to the Guthrie family.”

Anyone with information is urged to call 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.

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