Judge Emmet Sullivan issues what one legal analyst described as a "powerful" order against Attorney General Todd Blanche that makes the release of the remaining Jeffrey Epstein files more likely.
Sullivan, the senior district judge in the District of Columbia, ruled last week that Blanche and the Department of Justice failed to respond to a lawsuit filed by journalist Katie Phang challenging the department's adherence to the Administrative Procedure Act. Sullivan also set a deadline of Sept. 24 for Blanche to respond to Phang's lawsuit, making it more likely that her other lawsuit seeking the entirety of the Epstein files is "way closer" to a conclusion.
Phang argued on a new episode of "The Breakdown" with host Allison Gill that Sullivan effectively argued that he won't help Blanche "slow this roll" anymore.
"It's just another example of a nail in the coffin for Blanche when it comes to violating federal law," Phang said.
Sullivan also took aim at one of Blanche's more puzzling attempts to avoid releasing more Epstein files.
The ruling concerned the DOJ's compliance with an order from the summer to produce translated documents and other investigative materials related to the Epstein files. Blanche claimed that Congress had amended the Epstein Files Transparency Act in a way that prevented him from releasing the files because the body did not respond to his assertion that redacting the files was "too hard."
Sullivan ruled that Blanche's claims were "without merit," which is legalese for "that's dumb," according to Phang.
Phang explained that Sullivan's order effectively forced Blanche to start reviewing the documents and producing them, which he was supposed to begin doing almost a year ago.
"You should be angry, as an American taxpayer, that they're spending money on this!" Phang said. (our emphasis)
We're angry about that and a whole lot more. But, we'll wait and see how this pans out. Never, ever underestimate the willingness of the Malignant Fascist's consigliere Blanche to frustrate justice in service to Epstein's bff.
President Donald Trump is expect to tout the US peace efforts to world leaders at the UN General Assembly next week, as the conflict with Iran looms large in the backdrop.
Trump is expected to deliver remarks Tuesday and hold key meetings with leaders.
“We expect the president will highlight how he has and his administration have confronted complex problems head-on around the world,” U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said.
(Ironic bullshit alert.)
Trump is expected to highlight peace deals under his administration, issues “frankly neglected by past administrations,” “the importance of ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon,” and U.S. accomplishments, according to Waltz, “including in the Western Hemisphere, progress on the president's 20-point peace plan in Gaza, and more.”
Iran is expected to be a “key topic of conversation and diplomacy,” according to senior U.S. officials, who note support form other countries in condemning Iranian attacks against civilian infrastructure and shipping and tout oil flows, economic pressure and the U.S.’ continued blockade.
It comes as Trump appears to consider his next moves in Iran, but believes they want to amen a deal. Earlier in the week, Axios reported Trump told the outlet he has a “big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not?”... (our emphasis)
The "peace President" is headed to the U.N. to boast about fantasy "accomplishments" and always-imminent "deals," generally parade around in his narcissistic bubble, and bring further humiliation upon our country, as he has done in the past. Joy.
U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to bring a major part of national funding for health research under the control of his political appointees, Politico reported on Saturday.
Trump has directed his budget director, Russ Vought, to draft an executive order to create a board that would decide which grants wou
The board would include NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya and Vought, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, and would be required to reach unanimous decisions on grant awards, the report said.ld be funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the news outlet said, citing two administration officials familiar with the meeting.
The proposed arrangement would give Vought a direct role in determining how the health research agency distributes its congressionally-appropriated money, the report added.
The Office of Management and Budget, the White House and the Health and Human Services Department that oversees the NIH did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours.
The reported move comes amid mounting criticism of the US government’s research funding cuts, undertaken last year to target federal spending at major universities, resulting in the freezing or cancellation of grants at numerous institutions.
The Trump administration says these cuts are necessary to ensure the government funds only solid science and to reverse years of misguided priorities.
What could possibly go wrong with the MF's collection of crackpots, voodoo "scientists," and fascist axe-grinders deciding what NIH grants get funded or not? It's almost as if they want to Make America Sick Again.
