Jezebel | Guy in Charge of Releasing Epstein Files Says ‘I Don’t Understand What "Epstein Investigation" Means’ by Danielle Han

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has been in the role for just 47 days, appeared before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and claimed he “doesn’t understand what the ‘Epstein investigation’ means” when asked whether the Justice Department’s probe into financier Jeffrey Epstein was still open. Blanche denied the FBI’s statement that the investigation had been closed, contradicted his predecessor’s claim about a “client list” file, and defended the department’s handling of the mandated release of millions of Epstein‑related documents—admitting the DOJ had missed the Dec. 19 deadline, issued heavily redacted files, and mistakenly exposed victims’ identities. Senators and Epstein survivors criticized the DOJ’s errors and the continued failure to fully upload the files, while Blanche offered no apology and suggested the department had “failed” only when a victim’s name was released.

Read more: https://www.jezebel.com/guy-in-charge-of-epstein-files-says-i-dont-understand-what-epstein-investigation-means

#ToddBlanche #JeffMerkley #epsteinfiles #FBI #DOJ #JeffreyEpstein #PattyMurray

NPR Topics: News | Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome' estimated to cost $1.2 trillion by The Associated Press

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President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile‑defense program—intended to place weapons in space and protect the United States from next‑generation strategic threats—has been re‑estimated by the Congressional Budget Office at about $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years, far above the $175 billion figure Trump cited last year. The CBO analysis, which reflects an illustrative approach rather than a precise Administration proposal, notes the lack of detailed Defense Department data on system scope, making exact long‑term cost projections difficult. The project, modeled in part on Israel’s multi‑layered “Iron Dome,” would combine ground‑ and space‑based sensors and interceptors to detect and neutralize missiles at any stage of an attack, and Congress has already approved roughly $24 billion for the initiative. While Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, director of the Golden Dome effort, emphasizes a focus on affordability, critics such as Sen. Jeff Merkley argue the plan amounts to a massive giveaway to defense contractors funded by American taxpayers.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/13/g-s1-121780/trumps-golden-dome-cost

#DonaldTrump #IronDome #JeffMerkley #GoldenDome #CBO #MichaelGuetlein

US Senate GOP wants $1 billion for security for Trump’s ballroom in immigration bill

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://missouriindependent.com/2026/05/05/repub/us-senate-gop-wants-1-billion-for-security-for-trumps-ballroom-in-immigration-bill/

US Top News and Analysis | DOJ's handling of Epstein files to get congressional watchdog scrutiny

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Sen. Jeff Merkley (D‑OR), joined by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK), Ben Ray Luján (D‑NM) and Dick Durbin (D‑IL), announced that the Government Accountability Office will investigate the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files after the DOJ was accused of heavily redacting the names of powerful business and elected officials and failing to protect victims as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The lawmakers allege the department violated the law’s mandate for full disclosure, noting that the Trump administration has been “cruelly denying ‘equal justice under the law’” to Epstein’s victims and that the investigation is a crucial step toward accountability. The probe follows criticism of the DOJ’s release process, the firing of former Attorney General Pam Bondi, and a separate internal DOJ watchdog audit requested by Merkley, Murkowski, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal to assess compliance with the 2025 release deadline.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/28/jeffrey-epstein-doj-gao-congress.html

#JeffreyEpstein #JeffMerkley #DonaldTrump #EpsteinAct #LisaMurkowski #BenRayLujn #DickDurbin #RichardBlumenthal #PamBondi

After almost two-year lapse, Oregon counties get nearly $100 million from Secure Rural Schools

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://lincolnchronicle.org/after-almost-two-year-lapse-oregon-counties-get-nearly-100-million-from-secure-rural-schools/

Bernie Sanders seeks to stop bombs to Israel

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/michael-f-brown/bernie-sanders-seeks-stop-bombs-israel

#OR Senator Jeff Merkley and #OR6 Congresswoman Andrea Salinas have introduced legislation in the #USSenate and #USHouse to give legal tools to victims to sue #ICE and #CBP when their agents violate people’s civil and Constitutional rights.

This is needed but we shouldn’t leave loopholes to be exploited. There should be an easy-to-access remedy for individuals to sue ANY federal law enforcement agency that violates their rights.

#civilrights #jeffmerkley #andreasalinas

https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-salinas-lead-new-bill-to-hold-ice-cbp-accountable-for-abusing-americans-constitutional-rights/

Inside The Plan To Weaponize The Military Against Us: Senator Jeff Merkley with Marc Elias

#JeffMerkley #Oregon #ICE #gestapo #Democracy #DemocracyDocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cttxeGwBa2g

I just emailed my senators with the following message:

“I’m writing today to urge you NOT to vote to end the federal government shutdown without an agreement to extend the #ACA subsidies for at least a year. Despite how the shutdown affects me personally, I think it’s VITAL that Democrats stay strong and united against the cruelty and corruption of the Trump regime. Thank you!”

#governmentshutdown #senate #oregon #jeffmerkley #ronwyden