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The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
This article is part two of a double feature. After the death of finance mogul and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the internet erupted in conspiracy theories about the details surrounding his 'suicide,' which was committed while he was at prison, after he was removed from suicide watch for reasons that remain unknown. Even after autopsy reports ruled out foul play, many internet theories remain popular. Most of these theories surround the fact that Epstein had numerous connections to extremely powerful figures, who theorists claimed could have assassinated him to cover up their involvement with his sex trafficking crimes. This article will examine two of the main conspiracy theories regarding Epstein's death and what the evidence says about them. Theory 1: The Clinton Assassination Theory The Theory: This theory gained traction when conservative commentator Terrence K. Williams tweeted that Bill Clinton, who was a social acquaintance of Epstein’s, had something to do with Epstein’s death, but it wasn’t until President Donald Trump retweeted this claim that it really took off. Trump also said that, in the days following Epstein’s death, Bill Clinton had traveled on Epstein’s private plane “27 or 28 times,” and questioned if this meant he’d travelled with Epstein to the island of the alleged crimes. “The question you have to ask is, did Bill Clinton go to the island? Because Epstein had an island. That was not a good place, as I understand it, and I was never there,” Trump said, “So you have to ask, did Bill Clinton go to the island? That’s the question. If you find that out, you’re going to know a lot.” Original tweet by Terrence K. Williams, which Trump later retweeted. *Note: Falsely claims that Epstein was on 24/7 suicide watch.The Facts: Flight logs from 2002, brought forth in a lawsuit filed by one of his victims show nothing of the sort. While several figures linked to the Clinton family have died in the past, every one of those circumstances has been proven to have nothing to do with the Clintons. Theory 2: The Trump Ties Theory The Theory: This theory is rooted in Epstein’s connection to Donald Trump, and alleges that Trump, fearing that Epstein’s trial would unveil incriminating information against him, either assisted Epstein in his suicide, or had him killed to prevent the information from coming out. While Trump and Epstein were connected, Epstein frequently visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, and Trump even told a New York Magazine reporter, “I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy... He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” Screenshots from a lawsuit filed in 2016, in which an anonymous woman accused Trump and Epstein of raping her when she was 13 years old, were posted online in the days following Epstein’s death, with the caption, “this is why Epstein died.” The Facts: Many journalists who tried to investigate the lawsuit deemed it messy and not credible. The lawsuit was then dropped on November 4, 2016, four days before the 2016 presidential election, and the claims were never proven. While claims about the involvement of these high-profile political leaders in the Epstein's death are largely unfounded, numerous high-profile public figures, including British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and Duke of York Prince Andrew, remain under serious scrutiny for potential involvement in the sex trafficking crimes committed by Epstein. However, with Epstein's lips sealed forever, there's yet another obstacle blocking prosecutors from separating the rumors and the truth.
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The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
This article is part one of a double feature. Disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell on August 10th after accusations of sex trafficking minors. What followed was a myriad of speculation and conspiracy theories involving many prominent public figures, from the Clinton family to the United Kingdom’s Prince Andrew. What do we know surrounding Epstein’s sudden death, and how does it all connect? Epstein had previous convictions. In June of 2008, he appeared before a judge in a Palm Beach County, Florida courtroom to plead guilty to felony charges for procuring a minor for prostitution. Epstein arranged a plea deal with former U.S. attorney Alex Acosta which allowed for all grand jury subpoenas to be voided, and the severity of Epstein’s charges to be lowered. He was released from jail in July 2009 after serving only 13 months of his 18-month sentence (most of which was spent on ‘work release’ in a private wing of the prison). After it was discovered that he had never originally registered as a sex offender, he was forced to do so in 2011. His accusers challenged the prior statutory rape sentence in court, which developed into charges of child sex trafficking. As more girls came forward, his accusers challenged him in court in an attempt to get him to serve a more stern sentence. This time, he was accused of not only statutory rape, but also for running a sex trafficking ring. According to Federal prosecutors, Epstein paid girls as young as 14 hundreds of dollars in cash for sex at either his Manhattan townhouse or his estate in Palm Beach. He was arrested on charges of child sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. He pled not guilty, and faced up to 45 years in prison. He allegedly enlisted help from a group of female associates. In the wake of his suicide, federal authorities found a new focus in their investigation: the dozens of women, including Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and Epstein's ex-girlfriend, who solicited young girls to come to Epstein’s home and give him ‘massages.’ Police said these massages would become sexual, and some of the girls told police Epstein would use sex toys on them while he got a "massage." Some of Epstein’s crimes allegedly took place on his private Caribbean island. Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands, was purchased by Epstein in 1998. Known to locals as “Pedophile Island,” his victims’ lawyers allege that this is where some of the worst abuses took place. Court documents claim that then-17 year old Virginia Roberts was made to have sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions: in London, in New York, and as part of an orgy on Little Saint James. Bill Clinton is widely said to have traveled to Little Saint James, but flight logs, security records and Clinton representatives have since dispelled this rumor. Epstein’s death was mired in suspicion. Thirty-eight minutes before news of Epstein’s death broke in the mainstream media, an anonymous 4chan author published a message that read, “Don’t ask me how I know, but Epstein died an hour ago from hanging, cardiac arrest. Screencap this.” The jail where Epstein was being held was also found to have made several errors in security, such as removing Epstein from suicide watch. In addition to this, the New York Times reported that two of the guards charged with surveilling Epstein slept through two of his scheduled checks, and falsified records that the checks took place. These suspicious details sparked speculation about whether his death could’ve been more complicated than suicide. His death was ruled a suicide by examiners. The chief medical examiner in New York, Dr. Barbara Sampson, released a statement Friday that ruled out foul play, and placed Epstein’s cause of death as suicide by hanging. Alongside an autopsy, Dr. Sampson stated that there had been “careful review of all investigative materials.” Epstein’s legal team responded shortly after, saying, “The defense team fully intends to conduct its own independent and complete investigation into the circumstances and cause of Mr. Epstein’s death.” His lawyers also stated they were prepared to sue the government for access to surveillance video from the time of their client’s death. He signed a will shortly before his suicide. On August 8th, just two days before Epstein was to be found dead in his jail cell, he signed a last will and testament. The executors of this will, Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, are tasked with transferring all of Epstein’s property into a trust fund entitled the ‘1953 Trust.’ Though it is unclear who will receive the proceeds of Epstein’s estate, court documents show his brother, Mark, as the sole heir to the $577 million fortune. What happens next? The criminal case involving Epstein himself is over, but now the focus shifts to the lawsuits filed against his estate. Jennifer Araoz, who says Epstein raped her when she was 15 years old, filed suit on August 14th. “I am here because today is my first step towards reclaiming my power. Jeffrey Epstein and his network of enablers stole from me. They robbed me of my youth, my identity, my innocence and my self-worth,” said Araoz in an opinion piece published by the New York Times. Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have stated that they will continue to investigate any and all conspirators who aided Epstein in his crimes, though the likelihood of charges being brought against them is uncertain. The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
Thousands of Puerto Ricans took to the streets over the course of two weeks, waving Puerto Rican flags, ringing cowbells, and calling for the resignation of governor Ricardo Rossello. But what led them to take part in the U.S. territory’s largest protest in decades? And what was the aftermath of this sudden shift in political power? To understand the tensions that led up to this historic change, and the chaos that ensued, one must follow a complicated timeline of corruption, salacious messages, and outcry from some of Puerto Rico’s biggest stars, like singers Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin. July 10, 2019: Six officials in Rossello’s cabinet are indicted on various charges including money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Education Secretary Julia Keleher and another unnamed official are accused of directing $15.5 million in government funds towards politically affiliated contractors between 2017 and 2019. Keleher was widely criticized in the wake of Hurricane Maria for her desire to privatize Puerto Rico’s school system, a plan that included teacher layoffs, school closures and budget cuts. July 13, 2019: The story of the texting scandal, since coined Chatgate, breaks in Puerto Rico’s Centro de Periodismo Investigativo. "Now that we are on the subject, don't we have some cadavers to feed our crows?" - Rossello's response to a joke made about the Hurricane Maria death toll "Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin," he wrote."Ricky Martin is such a male chauvinist that he f—s men because women don't measure up. Pure patriarchy." - Rossello's comments on openly gay star Ricky Martin The report, totaling 889 pages, releases messages exchanged by Rossello and nine other government officials on the messaging app Telegram. Spanning from the end of 2018 to January 20th of this year, the messages contained homophobic and sexist language. In one exchange, Rossello referred to former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito as a “whore,” made homophobic jokes about openly gay pop star Ricky Martin, and at times even mocked those who died in Hurricane Maria. July 14, 2019: Celebrities Ricky Martin and Bad Bunny join the public outcry, with Martin postponing a show in Ibiza, Spain to join protests in San Juan. Rosello announces he will not resign, but will instead forego a re-election bid and step down as the leader of his party. “In spite of everything, I recognize that apologizing isn’t enough, that only my work will help restore confidence… facing that scenario, I announce to you that I will not seek re-election next year,” stated Rossello. July 24, 2019: After days of mass protest, Rossello announces his resignation, effective August 2. Celebrations take place in San Juan and around Puerto Rico. July 28, 2019: The woman slated to become Puerto Rico’s next governor, current Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez Garced, tweets her desire for Rossello to appoint a secretary of state before he leaves office, saying,“"I reiterate, I have no interest in occupying the position of Governor. The constitution dictates it. I hope that the Governor identifies and submits a candidate for the position of Secretary of State before August 2 and I have told him so," Vasquez wrote in a tweet in Spanish on Sunday. August 2, 2019: After the island’s House of Representatives approved his appointment as Secretary of State, Pedro Pierluisi is sworn in as governor. However, since his nomination hasn't been passed by the Puerto Rican Senate, his administration is expected to face legal challenges. The Senate will vote on Pierluisi’s governorship on Wednesday. "If the Senate ratifies me, I will be governor until 2020. If the Senate does not ratify me, I will be governor until next Wednesday," stated Pierluisi. At this point, Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez Garced would ascend to the position. Although she expressed distaste for assuming the role, she confirmed Thursday that she would “take it if it came to her.” August 7, 2019: Puerto Rico’s Supreme Court rules that Pierluisi’s governorship is unconstitutional, on the grounds that both houses of the legislature did not approve his nomination as secretary of state before he was sworn in as governor. Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez Garced then takes the oath of office. Although she previously expressed that she did not want to take the position, she said Wednesday that she “respects the ruling.” In a statement via Twitter, Garced stated, “Puerto Rico needs certainty and stability.” The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III recently wrapped up his investigation on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and submitted a report to Congress. The investigation spanned just under two years, and was riddled with controversy at every step. Notably, Mueller’s inquiry resulted in the arrest of President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Micheal Cohen, who pled guilty on several charges, including lying to Congress. Cohen is now serving a 6-year sentence in a New York federal prison. Now, the Mueller probe is the subject of a new round of hearings by the House Judiciary Committee. What happened in these hearings, and what do they mean for the future of our government? The Justice Department will provide further material from the report to House Democrats. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, announced June 10 that the Justice Department will begin to provide his committee with documents and information related to the Mueller report following a contention over a subpoena. In his statement, Nadler did not eliminate the possibility of later actions concerning contempt, but did indicate his committee’s willingness to cooperate with the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr. "If the department proceeds in good faith and we are able to obtain everything that we need, then there will be no need to take further steps. If important information is held back, then we will have no choice but to enforce our subpoena in court and consider other remedies,” Nadler said. The House of Representatives voted to hold two top officials in contempt of Congress. The House Oversight Committee voted 24-15 in favor of holding Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt of Congress on June 13. They are being held over failure to comply with a subpoena for documents relating to the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan was the only Republican to vote against his party. It’s unlikely that Mueller himself will appear before Congress. In his first public statement since the release of the report, Mueller said that he “would not provide any information beyond what is already public” in a testimony before Congress, and stated “if we had had confidence that [Trump] did not commit a crime, we would have said so.” Lawmakers are still divided over the issue. The House Intelligence Committee held a hearing Wednesday, where both Democrats and Republicans sought to vocalize their takeaways from Mueller’s report. “It may not be a crime to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Or for Michael Cohen to seek the Kremlin's help to do so. It may not be a crime to try to enrich yourself with a foreign business deal even while running for president, or to lie about it to the American people. But it is deeply compromising,” said Democrat Adam Schiff of California. Devin Nunes, a Republican, also from California, used his opening statement to target the media for perpetuating what he described as the “collusion hoax,” saying, “Unfortunately for Democrats, the Mueller dossier, as I call it, either debunked many of their favorite conspiracy theories or did not even find them worth discussing.” While Mueller’s investigation is now closed, one thing is certain: the shockwave it sent through the American political establishment is still being felt. With Mueller steering away from testimony, it appears that the defining conclusions are left for the public to decide. So will Mueller’s investigation become a point of interest in the 2020 presidential election, or will candidates on both sides of the aisle avoid the debate? The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
One person has been killed and three wounded following a shooting at a California synagogue. Officials say that 19-year old John Earnest entered the Chabad of Poway synagogue a little before noon on Saturday morning, armed with an AR-15 style weapon, and shouting anti-Semitic slurs. Saturday being the last day of Jewish Passover, the synagogue was more crowded than usual. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein attempted to talk to the shooter after he opened fire, but Goldstein was shot in both hands. 60-year-old Lori Gilbert Kaye, present at the service to honor her deceased mother, was killed. 34 year old Almog Peretz and his 8 year old niece, Noya Dahan, were also injured. Earnest then exited the building, presumably after his weapon malfunctioned, and surrendered to the police hours later. He has been charged with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder. This is just the latest in a series of attacks on places of religious worship, the most recent being a series of Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka and a mass shooting at a Christchurch, New Zealand mosque. Officials are investigating a letter published by Earnest on far-right website 8chan hours before the shooting. Similar to the manifesto attributed to the Christchurch mosque shooter, the document was described by the New York Times as “full of racist slurs and white nationalist conspiracy theories.” Earnest wrote that his role models included Jesus Christ, Adolf Hitler, and the shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pennsylvania. Hundreds attended a vigil for Lori Gilbert Kaye, held Sunday night at a park near the synagogue. President Donald Trump condemned the attack at a rally in Wisconsin, saying that, “Our entire nation mourns the loss of life, prays for the wounded, and stands in solidarity with the Jewish community. We forcefully condemn the evil of anti-Semitism and hate, which must be defeated.” Trump also called the rabbi of the synagogue, who said in a Sunday press conference that he was “amazed” to have received the call, and that he discussed many topics with the president. “I’m really grateful to our president for taking the time and making that effort to share with us his comfort and consolation,” Goldstein said. Rabbi Goldstein returned to his sermon after the shooter left the building, later telling the Today show, “I guarantee you, we will not be intimidated or deterred by terror. Terror will not win.” The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
In a document released Monday, the White House unveiled President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for the 2020 fiscal year. Some of the largest cuts went to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the State Department, and a $8.6 billion increase in funding for a southern border wall was proposed - a clear signal that the President does not intend to back down from his long-standing campaign promise. Regardless of whether or not the budget plan is put into action, it gives the American people a look into the Trump administration's agenda for the upcoming years. Here are some of the most significant department cuts proposed in the White House’s budget plan:
The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
In a speech at the White House Rose Garden on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump invoked his ability to declare a national emergency in an effort to secure funding for his southern border wall. In his remarks, the President called the declaration a “great thing to do,” saying that the reason behind his decision was “an invasion of our country with drugs, with human traffickers, with all types of criminals and gangs.” After a 35-day shutdown over wall funding disputes, and a bill that reopened the government temporarily, lawmakers were able to agree on a spending bill that will provide funding for the government through October of this year. The spending bill, which was passed by Congress, included $1.375 billion for border security, was a far cry from the $5.7 billion demanded by the president late last year. Trump’s declaration on Friday is expected to free up an estimated $8 billion in funds for the wall. The fallout caused by Trump’s declaration is starting to be felt around Washington. Several states, including New York and California, a group of Texas landowners, and the American Civil Liberties Union announced that they had filed a suit claiming that Trump’s effort to circumvent Congress is unconstitutional and violates the system of checks and balances. The House Judiciary Committee, led by Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), also announced Friday that it would be launching an investigation into the emergency claim. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer released a joint statement immediately following the President’s remarks in the Rose Garden, calling the move a “power grab by a disappointed president.” Within the GOP, this decision has sparked a divide. While most Republicans support Trump’s decision, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell publicly urged the president to find another way, while Florida Sen. Marco Rubio stated that “no crisis justifies violating the Constitution.” With another government shutdown narrowly averted, the next phase of the border battle is just beginning. The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
Even amidst a historical shutdown, our government is changing rapidly. Less than two weeks ago, the 116th United States Congress was gaveled to order. Democrats have officially taken control of the House of Representatives. Furthermore, the Congress election resulted in a record number of women and minorities being represented. There are a lot of firsts within this Congress: the first openly bisexual senator, the youngest Congresswoman in history, and the first Muslim elected to a Representative seat, among others. As we enter the next two years of Congress, these are the congresswomen changing the game: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez changed history on January 3rd by becoming the youngest female representative of all time. This New York democrat has not previously held any sort of elected office, and was endorsed by progressive organizations such as Black Lives Matter and Democracy for America. She is a member of the Democratic Socialists for America. Ocasio-Cortez has drawn controversy over proposing a 70% top tax rate to fund a “Green New Deal:” a plan to drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Kyrsten Sinema: This Arizonan Senator is first openly bisexual congressperson. Before joining the Democratic Party in 2004, she was an activist for the Green Party. Sinema unseated a long line of Republican rule in Arizona, becoming the first Democrat senator since Dennis DeConcini in 1988. For her swearing-in ceremony, she chose to be sworn in on a law book instead of the traditional Bible. Ilhan Omar: In 1995, Omar emigrated from a Kenyan refugee camp with her father and settled in Arlington, Virginia. Now, she is the first Somali American woman elected to Congress and she represents Minnesota. Her parents taught her the importance of democracy at a young age, and she’s been politically active since the age of 14. she became a US citizen in 2000, at the age of 19. On Thursday, Ilhan Omar changed a 181-year old ban on head coverings in the House floor. Rashida Tlaib: This Democratic representative from Michigan is one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, alongside Ilhan Omar. She is also the first Palestinian American woman in Congress. In the 2018 general election, she ran unopposed. Like Ocasio-Cortez, she is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Nancy Pelosi- a Democrat representing California, she is the first woman to hold the position of United States Speaker of the House, previously holding the position from 2007- 2011. She is the highest-ranking elected woman in US history, and is the first speaker to return to the position since Sam Rayburn in 1955. The number of women serving in both chambers of Congress is now 131. Members of color were elected in more states than ever before. With these historic firsts, politics are reflecting the diversity of the American people more than ever. The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
The United States Federal Government entered a partial shutdown early Saturday morning as talks over funding for president Donald Trump's southern border wall reached a stalemate. So what does this mean, and who does it affect? A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to reach an agreement on an appropriations bill (a a piece of legislation that allocates funding to different parts of the government). Since this shutdown is only a partial one, employees from seven government agencies will be granted a leave of absence, while essential personnel will continue to work without pay. An estimated 380,000 federal workers will be sent home, while 420,000 more will go without payment. Employees from the Departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, State, and Treasury will be impacted by this shutdown. The House and Senate held a meeting at noon, but they did not plan any votes. According to the House GOP leaders, lawmakers will be told of a scheduled vote a day beforehand. This is the third government shutdown in Donald Trump's administration, with the first one running from January 20-22 of this year, and the second taking place on February 9, 2018. The shutdown appears to be in response to an argument between president Trump, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The two Democrat leaders told him they would not approve a $5 billion dollar fund towards the barrier. Then, Schumer accused Trump of threatening a government shutdown over his wall ‘20 times.’ In response, Trump said, “if we don’t get what we want, one way or the other, whether it’s through you, through the military, through anything you want to call, I will shutdown the government.” He then stated that he would be proud to order a government shutdown if it was for ‘border security.’ Later, Pelosi tweeted, “Democrats are for real border security solutions, not for wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on an immoral, ineffective & expensive wall.” The following was originally written for and published by Revolution Now Magazine.
As the Mueller investigation progresses, the focus has shifted to president Donald Trump's former lawyer, Micheal Cohen. On Friday, December 7th, 2018, sentencing memos were released by both the offices of the United States District Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In these memos, Cohen is recommended for 51-63 months of federal prison time after he pled guilty to charges including tax evasion, making false statements to Congress, and making an excessive campaign contribution. The Special Counsel investigation (also called the Mueller investigation) is an ongoing effort by United States intelligence agencies to examine Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This investigation is headed by Robert Mueller, a former FBI director. So far, the investigation has produced dozens of indictments for federal crimes, and at least eight guilty pleas or convictions on a variety of charges. These convictions range from financial crimes to making false statements to Congress. Cohen lied to Congress about the “Moscow Project.” This project aimed at creating a Trump Tower in Russia and took place during Trump’s 2016 candidacy for president. Cohen admitted that negotiations had gone on for six months after the time he told Congress they had concluded. He also stated that he discussed the project with Donald Trump three more times than he had originally stated. This deal not only creates a conflict of interest between Trump’s business and candidacy, but also provides a motive for the Russians to interfere in the election. Ultimately, Cohen said that he lied in order to “minimize links between the project and Trump as his campaign was gaining steam.” In addition to this, he also paid adult film actress Stephanie Clifford $130,000 to ensure confidentiality over an affair with then candidate Donald Trump. Playboy model Karen McDougal received a similar payment of $150,000. This amount far exceed the limit of $2,700 set for personal campaign contributions to a single candidate. Cohen, in a sentencing appearance on December 7, 2018, stated that these payments were made on the orders of Trump. On December 12, Micheal Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison, and will begin his sentence in March of 2019. Cohen joins the growing list of people who have received prison due to the findings of the Mueller investigation. He joins George Papadopoulos, Micheal Flynn, Alex van der Zwaan, both sentenced for lying about their Russian contacts, and Richard Pinedo, sentenced for identity fraud in connection with the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trump claims that Cohen lied to decrease his jail time. “He was convicted of various things unrelated to us,” Trump said, “He’s a weak person and what he’s trying to do is get a reduced sentence.” |
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