News
Four takeaways from Pam Bondi’s fiery Epstein testimony
Lawmakers criticized the redactions made by Bondi’s justice department to the Epstein files, prompting a response from her.
A congressional hearing on Wednesday saw US Attorney General Pam Bondi face intense scrutiny over the justice department's handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as other pressing issues, prompting a series of heated exchanges with lawmakers.
The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee hearing often became confrontational, with Bondi engaging in a war of words with a Democratic lawmaker, and another representative storming out of the room after a particularly tense exchange.
Key moments from the four-hour hearing are highlighted below, showcasing the intense debate and discussion that took place.
The hearing came on the heels of the justice department's release of additional files from its Epstein investigations earlier this year, which totaled millions of documents.
Several of Epstein's victims attended the hearing, and both lawmakers and Bondi frequently referenced their cases throughout the proceedings.
In her opening remarks, Bondi described Epstein as a "monster" and expressed regret for the abuse suffered by his victims.
However, lawmakers soon turned their attention to the justice department's handling of the file releases, with several criticizing the failure to redact victims' names as required by law.
Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal noted that some survivors had "nude images" released, despite having their identities protected for decades, highlighting the need for greater care in handling sensitive information.
Jayapal asked the survivors in attendance to stand and raise their hands if they had not been able to meet with the justice department, and all of them responded affirmatively.
Jayapal then requested that Bondi apologize to the victims for the justice department's handling of redactions, citing the harm caused by the release of sensitive information.
Bondi pushed back against Jayapal's questioning, characterizing it as "theatrics" and refusing to engage in a heated debate.
The attorney general emphasized that officials were working to protect victims within the timeframe allowed by the legislation, and that any inadvertently released names were being promptly redacted.
The hearing also touched on the issue of redacted names in the Epstein files, with some names being withheld.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has accused the justice department of improperly removing names from the files, including those of individuals who are not protected.
After reviewing unredacted versions of the files, the justice department has since unredacted names in at least one document, highlighting the complexities of the redaction process.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who has been involved in efforts to review the files, asked Bondi about the responsibility for the redactions and whether anyone would be held accountable for the "failure".
Massie emphasized that the issue was far-reaching, spanning multiple US administrations, and compared it to the Watergate scandal.
As Massie continued to press Bondi on the redactions, including the initial blacking out of billionaire Les Wexner's name, she dismissed his concerns as a "political joke".
FBI Director Kash Patel intervened, stating that there was "no evidence" that Epstein had trafficked women to Wexner, providing context to the discussion.
Wexner has previously alleged that Epstein stole millions of dollars from him while working as his financial adviser, highlighting the complex web of relationships involved.
A legal representative for Wexner stated that he had co-operated fully with the justice department, providing background information on Epstein, and was not considered a target in any investigation.
Wexner's representative noted that he had not been contacted again after providing the information, emphasizing his co-operation with the investigation.
During the discussion of the Epstein files, California Democratic Representative Ted Lieu mentioned Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is facing pressure to testify in the US regarding his connections to Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing and reached a settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022, containing no admission of liability.
Lieu displayed a photo from the Epstein files showing Mountbatten-Windsor in a compromising position, although the context and timing of the image are unclear.
The photo itself does not necessarily indicate any criminal activity, and its significance is still being debated.
Lieu questioned why the photo had not been used to prosecute Mountbatten-Windsor, prompting Bondi to ask why he had not raised the issue with former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Lieu agreed with Bondi that Garland had "dropped the ball" in handling the case, emphasizing the need for further investigation.
While the Epstein files dominated the hearing, Bondi also faced questions about the fatal shooting of two people by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, which had sparked nationwide protests.
Tennessee Democratic Representative Steve Cohen characterized the shootings as "executions" that the justice department had failed to properly investigate.
Cohen urged Bondi to launch an investigation into the shootings, stating that the justice department's inaction was "wrong".
Bondi defended the federal government's actions in Minnesota, attributing the violence to elected officials who she claimed had obstructed law enforcement and declared themselves "at war" with the federal government.
Other Republicans, including committee chair Representative Jim Jordan, came to Bondi's defense, praising her implementation of President Trump's immigration policies and her handling of the situation.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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