Attorney General, Democrats Trade Insults During Fiery Testimony On Epstein Files, Trump-Linked Prosecutions
Plus: Man Released After Questioning Over Nancy Guthrie's Disappearance
Good evening,
This headline hit hard for many millennials. Actor James Van Der Beek died this morning at the age of 48 following a multi-year battle with colorectal cancer. The “Dawson’s Creek” star rose to fame in the late 1990s and later appeared in films and series, including “Scary Movie,” “Varsity Blues,” and “Pose.”
Van Der Beek revealed in late 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He had planned to reunite with his “Dawson’s Creek” castmates this past September, but withdrew from the event due to health issues.
“I was so healthy, was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I was doing the cold plunges, and the saunas, and the intermittent fasting and all of it,” Van Der Beek told TODAY in December. “I had Stage 3 cancer and had no idea.”
Van Der Beek lived on a ranch in Texas and leaves behind his wife, Kimberly, and six children.
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🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
Bondi Clashes With Lawmakers Over Epstein Files, Trump-Linked Prosecutions
Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with House lawmakers Wednesday in a combative hearing marked by sharp criticism over the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and its pursuit of cases tied to President Trump’s political adversaries.
In one heated exchange, she called Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) a “washed-up loser lawyer.” She also called Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) “has Trump derangement syndrome” and is “a failed politician.” Some legislators accused her of bringing a “burn book” to the hearing.
The hearing came one day after federal prosecutors tried and failed to secure a criminal indictment Tuesday against six Democratic lawmakers, leading to concerns about the first ammendment and separation of powers. In November, six Democrats with military or intelligence backgrounds, appeared in a video urging military personnel to refuse to follow orders if they are unlawful.
INSIDE THE HEARING
Bondi deflected criticism over the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files during the House Judiciary Committee’s oversight hearing by insisting that he is the most transparent president ever, and signed the law requiring the release of the documents. (Fact Check: The Trump administration initially lobbied Congress against that law). At one point, Bondi told Democrats they should be more focused on stock market gains and other administration achievements.
“The Dow is over 50,000 right now,” Bondi said in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee after Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) criticized her for failing to indict any co-conspirators connected to Epstein. “That’s what we should be talking about,” Bondi continued.
EPSTEIN VICTIMS: In her opening remarks, Bondi defended the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files, saying any inadvertent release of victims’ names was corrected quickly and that she has spent her career “fighting for victims.”
But when Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) asked her to turn and apologize directly to victims in the room, Bondi refused, saying, “I am not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics.”
POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS: Raskin accused Bondi of turning the DOJ into “Trump’s instrument of revenge,” saying: “Trump orders up prosecutions like pizza and you deliver every time he tells you to go after James Comey, Letitia James, Lisa Cook, and Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve Board, and members of Congress.”
But, Bondi says the DOJ “weaponization has ended” under her leadership.
GRAND JURY REJECTION
Federal prosecutors reportedly argued that the six Democratic lawmakers, who urged military personnel to refuse unlawful orders, violated a law prohibiting interference with the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the U.S. armed forces. But, a Washington D.C. grand jury rejected the case. It is the latest case linked to Trump that a grand jury or judge has tossed.
REWIND: U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro sought charges against Sens. Elissa Slotkin (MI) and Mark Kelly (AZ), along with Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA), Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Maggie Goodlander (NH), and Jason Crow (CO).
Their video urging military members to refuse illegal orders came as some legal analysts and lawmakers questioned the Trump administration’s airstrikes on suspected drug boats near Venezuela.
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the post. He shared another person’s post that said, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!”
Slotkin posted Tuesday: “Tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law.” Kelly said, “Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him. The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.” Sen. Thom Tillis came out Wednesday, accusing the Trump admin of “political lawfare.”
BIGGER PICTURE: In addition to the First Amendment issues with the attempt to indict members of Congress, the “speech or debate” clause of the Constitution gives lawmakers on Capitol Hill immunity from prosecution for acts taken within the legislative sphere.
The failed case is the latest in a series of controversial prosecutions and failed indictments pursued by the Trump administration, including cases involving former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Under federal law, felony charges require a grand jury indictment. At least 12 of between 16-23 jurors on the grand jury must vote that there is probable cause to proceed.
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🚨 ONE THING WE’RE WATCHING
Delivery Driver Briefly Detained, Then Released In Nancy Guthrie Case
A man was detained Tuesday night for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie — several hours later, he was released. Carlos Palazuelos, 27, told reporters he was “terrified” by the ordeal and felt like he was “being kidnapped.”
Palazuelos, a delivery driver, said he was pulled over near his Rio Rico, Arizona, home and questioned after investigators believed his eyes resembled those of a masked individual carrying a gun and tampering with her home security cameras. The FBI released the video from Guthrie’s home camera hours before the apprehension.
Asked whether he delivered a package to Nancy’s house, he said: “I don’t know, it might have been a possibility.”
A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday that Palazuelos was detained while deputies followed up on incoming leads. Authorities said they have received about 4,000 calls in the 24 hours after the doorbell footage, though not all are related to the Guthrie case.
Wednesday marks 12 days since Guthrie, the mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to have been taken from her Tucson, Arizona, home.
THERE’S MORE
TMZ received a new letter tied to Guthrie’s disappearance Wednesday morning, claiming to know who the kidnappers are and demanding one Bitcoin in exchange for the information. The email differs from earlier communications and does not claim to be from the kidnapper directly. Former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker told Fox News that he is “highly skeptical” of it as bad actors look to capitalize on the ongoing situation.
One Bitcoin, which fluctuates greatly, is currently worth about $66,000 as of Wednesday afternoon — more than the $50,000 reward the FBI is offering for information leading to Nancy’s return.
TMZ and two Arizona stations previously received ransom-style notes tied to a Bitcoin wallet, demanding $6 million. Tucson station KGUN reports that the wallet received a small payment of less than $300 Tuesday night.
Bigger picture: Bitcoin transactions can occur outside traditional financial systems. The cryptocurrency has become a common tool in extortion schemes, including ransomware attacks and kidnappings, since its launch in 2009.
⏳ THE SPEED READ
🚨NATION
Pentagon-FAA dispute over lasers to thwart cartel drones led to airspace closure, AP sources say (AP)
White House expects ‘substantial’ GOP defections on Canada tariff vote in House (POLITICO)
GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski comes out against Trump’s election bill, with a warning to her party (NBC)
Trump tells Netanyahu that Iran nuclear talks will continue (AP)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
Shooter in Canada kills 9 people and injures 25 others at a school and home (AP)
Father of U.S.-based Hong Kong activist convicted under national security law (NPR)
UK to join NATO’s US arms-buying scheme for Ukraine (POLITICO EU)
Moscow preparing to evacuate Russian tourists from Cuba amid US oil blockade (GUARDIAN)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
US economy added 130K jobs in January, delayed report shows (FOX)
U.S. debt forecast to hit $64T in a decade as Trump policies widen deficit (POLITICO)
Kraft Heinz pauses work to split the company as new CEO says ‘challenges are fixable’ (CNBC)
FDA refuses to review Moderna’s application for mRNA flu vaccine, company says (CNN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… Super Bowl LX drew the second-largest television audience in U.S. history on Sunday.
The game averaged nearly 125 million viewers across NBC’s broadcast and streaming platforms, but it was about 3 million viewers short of last year’s record-setting Eagles–Chiefs game.
Bad Bunny’s halftime show drew 128 million viewers, making it the fourth-most watched halftime behind Kendrick Lamar (~133 million, 2025), Michael Jackson (~133 million, 1993), and Usher (~129 million, 2024).
Total social media consumption of Bad Bunny’s show set a record of 4 billion views after the first 24 hours — a 137% increase from last year.
NBC said Sunday’s game was the most-watched Super Bowl ever on U.S. Spanish-language television, with more than 3 million viewers watching on Telemundo. That audience grew by nearly 2 million viewers during the halftime show, underscoring the NFL’s continued push to expand its international and Spanish-speaking audience.
Halftime Show Alternatives: The 2026 Puppy Bowl halftime show drew about 15 million viewers, while Turning Point USA’s ‘All-American Halftime Show’ peaked at about 6 million concurrent live viewers on YouTube.