Jeffrey Epstein (image via Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office)
The judge presiding over the sex trafficking case of financier Jeffrey Epstein did not grant Epstein the luxury of bail today after it came to light that investigators found “piles of cash” and a fake passport in his home.
Investigators discovered a safe in Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion that held “piles of cash,” diamonds and an expired passport from a foreign country which had what appeared to be Mr. Epstein’s photo, but was registered to a fake name and listed his residence as Saudi Arabia.
Prosecutors revealed the safe’s contents as they argued in Federal District Court in Manhattan that Mr. Epstein should be denied bail before his sex-trafficking and conspiracy trial because he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. He is accused of abusing dozens of underage girls at his residences in New York City and Palm Beach, Fla.
Two women who say they were sexually abused by Mr. Epstein also spoke at the hearing, urging Judge Richard M. Berman to deny him bail.
“He’s a scary person to have walking the streets,” said Courtney Wild, one of Mr. Epstein’s accusers, who said she was assaulted at age 14.
Epstein’s lawyers have offered up to $100 million in cash and real estate holdings as collateral for his bail as they seek house arrest for Epstein.
Governor Ricardo Rosselló of Puerto Rico is currently embroiled in an ugly political scandal as hundreds of pages of a private group chat between the governor and 11 other officials were anonymously released last week.
Now dubbed #RickyLeaks, the private text messages (889 pages) included profane homophobic and sexist comments from the governor and others regarding politicians, officials and journalists.
El Nuevo Dia reports that on December 24, 2018, Rosselló posted a video featuring PDP senator Eduardo Bhatia which elicited jokes from two other participants about Bhatia’s sexuality. At one point in the exchange, Rosselló added, “Historic c*cksucker levels.”
Rosselló clearly likes that label as just a few days later, on December 31, the governor called journalist Torres Gotay an “unprecedented c*cksucker” in response to a report Gotay had written about ferry service issues.
International pop star Ricky Martin was the target of one exchange when former Chief Financial Officer Christian Sobrino wrote, “Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin.”, He later added, “Ricky Martin is such a male chauvinist that he f**ks men because women don’t measure up. Pure patriarchy.”
Martin responded via social media tweeting, in part, “We cannot allow our Puerto Rico to be in the hands of such ‘leaders.’”
Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz of San Juan has filed a police report in response to an exchange in the leaked messages that included what appeared to be a death threat.
The previously mentioned Sobrino wrote in a message that he was, “Salivating to shoot her.”
Rosselló responded saying, “You do me a favor.”
The 40-year-old governor also referred to former speaker of the New York City Council, Puerto Rico-born Melissa Mark-Viverito, as a “whore.”
When news of the leaked text messages broke, Rosselló returned home from a family vacation in Europe and issued an apology.
“I’m the governor of Puerto Rico, but I’m a human being who has his faults,” Rosselló said in a press conference late Thursday. “I ask for forgiveness.”
Saying that his comments were the result of working long 18-hour days, he added, “None of this justifies the words I’ve written. My apologies to all the people I have offended… This was a private chat.”
BREAKING: Puerto Rico’s Governor @ricardorossello is refusing to resign amid public pressure that he should, all while he is dismissing members of his cabinet and staff over scandalous text messages, many of which, the Governor himself was engaged in sending.
Rosselló has had a rough time since taking office. Puerto Rico was already in a years-long recession at the time, and a federal oversight board has controlled the island’s finances since 2016, when Rosselló became governor.
And, of course, the slow response to the devastating damage inflicted by Hurricane Maria in 2017 increased criticism of the governor.
Last week, two high level members of his administration were arrested by the FBI, further eroding any support he may have had.
According to the New York Times, many political insiders and pundits believe the governor’s days in office are numbered. But CBS reporter David Begnaud reports that members of Rosselló’s party have decided to give him “time for reflection” and are not planning to ask him to resign “at this moment.”
Puerto Rico’s Governor has dodged a political bullet.
Members of the Governors party in the House of Representatives decided tonight not ask Governor @ricardorossello to resign “at this moment”.
Protesters gathered outside La Fortaleza governor’s residence on Sunday, demanding Rosselló resign chanting, “Ricky resign – the people don’t want you!”
At a church in San Juan, the governortold reportershe is looking to God to guide him through “figurative or real” hurricanes, and that he is committed to learning from “what was done.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) went to bat for Donald Trump this morning during an appearance on Fox & Friends as he called “the squad,” a group of four freshman progressive Democratic lawmakers, “a bunch of communists…anti-American.”
“We all know AOC and this crowd are a bunch of communists. They hate Israel, they hate our own country. They’re calling the guards along our border, Border Patrol agents concentration camp guards. They accuse people supporting Israel of doing it for the Benjamins.”
“They’re anti-Semitic. They’re anti-America. Don’t get down, aim higher. We don’t need to know anything about them personally. Talk about their policies. Their policies will destroy this country.”
.@LindseyGrahamSC on Fox & Friends: “We all know that AOC and this crowd are a bunch of communists … they’re anti-Semitic. They’re anti-America.” pic.twitter.com/lsFqZi1Eu8
Four years ago, Lindsey Graham called out Trump’s racism and xenophobia. Now he’s gaslighting to protect it. His transformation from skeptic to stooge has been one of the most pitiful one-eighties in political history. https://t.co/zAnsKgzMza
Trump continued his attacks on the four Democrats Monday morning saying they should “apologize” for the “foul language they have used.”
Gee, project much…?
When will the Radical Left Congresswomen apologize to our Country, the people of Israel and even to the Office of the President, for the foul language they have used, and the terrible things they have said. So many people are angry at them & their horrible & disgusting actions!
Trump: “If you’re not happy here, then you can leave. As far as I’m concerned, if you hate our country, if you’re not happy here, you can leave.”pic.twitter.com/vbHAvSfREj
Directed by Darko Štante in a stunning debut, Consequences joins the recent list of celebrated indie films with a focus on closeted queer young men.
Premiering at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, the movie explores the chaotic, destructive and complex nature of closeted youth.
From the official synopsis:
Centered on a powerhouse performance from charismatic newcomer Matej Zemljic, the film takes an unflinching look at the raw impulses of adolescence and the insecurity that lies beneath.
Sentenced, with the approval of his exasperated parents, to attend a youth detention centre, a handsome and muscular teen is thrown into the correctional facility’s intimidating and testosterone-fueled hierarchy.
Standing strong against its violent initiations, Andrej finds his anchor of approval and companionship in Željko, the aggressive leader of the center’s gang, which he soon joins in a carefree spiral of sex, drugs, and violence. Yet Andrej’s tough posturing belies an intimate fragility. Revealing this would unravel everything around him.
Director Štante has said in interviews he based much of the film on his own experiences working in a correctional facility.
Consequences is set for a limited theatrical release on August 2nd. Check out the official trailer below.
Preschool entertainment learning app Hopster teamed up with Diversity Role Models to produce a series of videos showing LGBTQ families called ‘Rainbow Stories.’
The video series focuses on teaching preschool kids about diversity among families.
“Our role models are at the heart of our work,” shared Adam McCann, CEO of Diversity Role Models. “To see their stories of embracing difference and diverse, loving families come to life and amplified to young children will encourage acceptance around the world.”
Miki Chojnacka, Chief Creative and Content Officer at Hopster, shared: “Rainbow Stories focusses on love, family, acceptance, friendship and trust. Finding real life stories and translating them into animated short films for preschoolers has been a hugely powerful experience.”
Noting that LGBTQ community is underrepresented in preschool content, Chojnacka added, “We are so proud to have formed this partnership with Diversity Role Models and make the much needed change.”
One of the animated videos shares the story of a married gay couple, Mark and Peter, who adopt a young boy, James. The video shows the happiness James finds in his new home with his adopted parents and their cat Einstein.
Check out the short video below as James comes to meet and love his ‘forever family.’
Donald Trump began his Sunday with a hideously racist series of tweets aimed at some progressive Democrat congresswomen from countries “whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe” should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.”
The Donald doesn’t name exactly who he’s addressing, but the tweets follow attacks on Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar (both women of color) saying he “doesn’t even know where they came from.”
So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly……
….and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how….
….it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!
Of course three of the four Democratic Congresswomen whom Trump is attacking were born in the United States. The other came here at age 10. https://t.co/MoBsYaT4aR
When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to “Make America Great Again” has always been about making America white again.
Hey @realDonaldTrump: What makes America exceptional is we are a nation of immigrants. As an immigrant who served on active duty, I am appalled you are telling us to “go back.”
I’m not going back. America is our home. And I will still be in Congress after your racist ass leaves. https://t.co/GHNkTlBEJr
I interviewed out singer/songwriter Justin Utley some years ago when I was co-hosting the online radio show, The Candi & Randy Show. Candi and I both just fell in love with Justin’s talent and his deep passion for speaking out against so-called ‘conversion therapy,’ having been subjected it its dangers for two years as a young Mormon in Utah. Happy to say the two-time OUTMusic Award winner has a new music video, “Survivors,” from his upcoming album, Scars. Justin recently told my Instinct Magazine colleague Michael Cook, “’Survivors’ is about facing and overcoming insurmountable odds and learning to thrive in the face of adversity.” “It’s about survivors of abuse in all forms and how it takes a great deal of effort to move forward in life while carrying the heavy burden of trauma,” added the hunky singer. During the month of July 2019, all proceeds from “Survivors” will be donated to the Born Perfect Campaign, a survivor-led movement working to end conversion therapy. The song is available on most digital download sites like iTunes.
Oh, and as you can see, Justin is waaaay easy on the eyes, too 😉
Mayor Pete Buttigieg, in an interview that will air on “The Axe Files” tonight at 7pm on CNN, shared his thoughts with David Axelrod about promising pie-in-the-sky programs being bandied about on the campaign trail.
“I do think that we should be realistic about what’s going to work,” said Buttigieg. “And just flipping a switch and saying we’re instantly going to have everybody on Medicare just like that — isn’t realistic.”
“I think that when it comes to a lot of these policies that we’re being pushed to do — say that we can pay down the last penny of tuition for any student including the child of a billionaire. These are things that are questionable on their merits and of course also pretty far out … from where Americans are.”
Of the 20 candidates on the two debate stages during the first round of Democratic debates, just four raised their hands when asked who backed the elimination of private health insurance — Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“The best way to do that is a Medicare for all who want it. We take some flavor of Medicare, you make it available on the exchange as a public option. And you invite people to buy into it,” he said at a CNN town hall in March.
For lower-income families, we must make public college truly debt-free. We can do this through a state-federal partnership that makes public tuition affordable for all and completely free at lower incomes — combined with a large increase in Pell Grants that provides for basic living expenses and keeps up with inflation.
Middle-income families at public colleges will pay zero tuition. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are vital for this country and our communities and deserve to receive more dedicated support.
Additional policies: • Confront student loan debt • Provide more support for students entering public service • Ensure the highest degree of transparency and accountability for higher education institutions • Apply strict standards to for-profit higher education institutions
I agree with Mayor Pete. I think there are lots of people (perhaps those who get their health insurance through their employers) may be happy with what they have.
I would totally support a program where folks can buy into a version of Medicare or keep their existing insurance. It seems more realistic than wiping out all private healthcare insurance companies.
Maybe some day we get to a place where we don’t have private companies, but I believe the path to that result will take incremental steps.
Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Lindsey Graham and other GOP officials visited one of the detention border camps.
Pence dressed like he was going to one of Donald Trump’s country clubs as the men there were locked in cages, calling for help.
It looks like he’s visiting an animal shelter – look at that body language. He then took to Twitter to say the detainees were getting, “humane and compassionate care” from CPB.
I’ve not found one report that he spoke to or asked any of the detainees how they were.
Rather than broadcast the full story, showing the compassionate care the American people are providing to vulnerable families, tonight CNN only played video of men in the temporary facility and didn’t play any footage of the family facility at all…
This image will go down in history. New video shows shows Mike Pence callously observing and turning his back on severe overcrowding of men in cages at a detainment facility in Texas.
This photo of Mike Pence and Lindsey Graham witnessing the concentration camps just before they praised the concentration camp staff will not fare well through the lens of history. pic.twitter.com/JuNjgyqI3l
