Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 4d

A FOIA Files flashback:

Documents I obtained via #FOIA reveal that the IRS took the extraordinary step of seeking a legal opinion on whether it was appropriate to emblazon President Donald Trump's name on millions of Covid stimulus checks in 2020.

www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

A mock up of one of the Covid-era stimulus check that contained former President Donald Trump’s name in the memo line.

4 33 90

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 5d

NEW FOIA Files newsletter is out!

I squeezed out a handful of emails from ODNI about the "damage assessment" lawmakers asked the agency to conduct after FBI found that Trump stockpiled classified docs at Mar-a-Lago

This is what was discussed behind the scenes
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

This email sent on Sept. 14, 2022, warned that ODNI should proceed with caution. The person who sent it (their name is redacted) apparently wanted to avoid coming to any quick conclusions about the national security implications.

The emails also indicate that ODNI was actually trying to avoid conducting a full blown damage assessment. Another email sent four days later explained why Haines used the word “potential” when she responded to the lawmakers.

2 25 52

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 9d

Thank you!

1 1

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 9d

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

How Bloomberg News Vetted the Epstein Emails

Methods included cryptographic analysis, metadata analysis and corroboration with external sources.

www.bloomberg.com

1 2 7

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 9d

🎁 www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

Jeffrey Epstein Email Trove Reveals Ghislaine Maxwell’s Secrets

A cache of 18,000 messages obtained by Bloomberg News reveals Maxwell’s deep ties and involvement with the disgraced financier and sex offender.

www.bloomberg.com

16 45

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 9d

Tomorrow, SCOTUS will review Ghilaine Maxwell's cert petition in which she appealed her 2021 conviction

Check out the @bloomberg.com story from a couple of weeks ago, which sheds new light on Maxwell's partnership w/Epstein and undercuts her claims that she diassociated herself from hin in 2008

From: G Maxwell <GMax[REDACTED]>
To: J Ep <jeeproject@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 13 2015 6:01 PM
Subject: FW: Attorney Privileged Communication - subject to mutual interest privilege [IWOV-Matters.FID782702]
See bellow
I guess they are fishing to see if I can have allegation against me…this would take what ever slim shred of a life I have after this mess and kill it..

7 65 110

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

NEW special edition of my newsletter, FOIA Files, is out!

www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

Email from Epstein about an apology letter written for him

Epstein telling scientific researchers he has no boundaries related to what they want to research

Stephen Kosslyn from Harvard reacting to Epstein telling him he will be going to jail

Epstein weighing in on a letter to his friends after he was charged in Florida

15 38

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

“let’s also look at sex tourism laws,” Epstein wrote back. “going someplace with specific intent ot have underage sex.”

1 14 40

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

“I'm sorry I was a little confused about what you were asking on the phone,” Webber wrote him. “I se what you were asking now. The question is: what would happen if one were to transport a minor for sex—or transport oneself with the intent to have sex with a minor—into a state in which the age of consent is below eighteen (assuming the minor is above the age of consent in the given state)? And your intuition was right. The answer is that there is no violation of law.”

1 21 41

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

NEW: Meet Mitch Webber, formerly an associate counsel & special assistant to President Trump (during his 1st term). In 2006, Webber was a Harvard Law School student & research assistant to Alan Dershowitz when he defended Jeffrey Epstein

Webber sometimes fielded sensitive questions from Epstein...

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

🚨 EXPLOSIVE NEW report based on the 18K emails @business obtained from Jeffrey Epstein's personal Yahoo account: new details about the academics, attorneys and media specialists who helped him—in different ways and to varying degrees

🧵
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

In October 2007. when the New York Post reported that Epstein was preparing a guilty plea, one of his many friends at Harvard University got in touch.
I read the newspapers early this morning,' the neurologist Mark Tramo wrote to one of Epstein's assistants. "Please remind him that bovs from The Bronx (even if they end up at Harvard) have long memories, know all about cops, and stay true to their friends through thick and thin (no less peccadilloes). Tramo, who is currently listed as an adjunct professor at University of California at Los Angeles, didn't respond to multiple messages seeking comment

1 49 70

Reposted by Jason Leopold

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

🚨 EXPLOSIVE NEW report based on the 18K emails @business obtained from Jeffrey Epstein's personal Yahoo account: new details about the academics, attorneys and media specialists who helped him—in different ways and to varying degrees

🧵
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

33 500 990

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

And if you don't have the time to read 4K words, here are the key takeaways

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Key Takeaways From Epstein’s Emails Revealing His Support Network

Bloomberg News obtained over 18,000 messages sent to and from the disgraced financier, detailing his links to academics, lawyers and crisis strategists.

www.bloomberg.com

2 57 110

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

There is a ton more new revelations in this new installment of Epstein's Inbox.

Please give it a read!

www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

Jeffrey Epstein Leaned on His Elite Network for Help as Investigators Closed In

A cache of 18,000 messages shows the elite support the disgraced financier got in his “hour of terror.”

www.bloomberg.com

4 64 150

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

For Epstein, who was reviewing drafts of the letter, that wording wasn’t enough:

2 16 79

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

Not many figures in Epstein’s legal circle have been more closely linked to him than Dershowitz, a central member of his legal team for years. The emails show the depth of the support he gave Epstein.

“I am writing this letter to Jeffrey’s close friends as one of his close friends, not as a lawyer,” read a draft of a letter in September 2006. “NO, there was never any underage sex. Absolutely none.” The letter, which closes with “Cordially, Alan Dershowitz,” was flattering and savvy: “We all know Jeffrey is extremely smart, and in fact a little ‘complex.’ However, he is not self-destructive.” It rose to a crescendo: “I know that you wish him well, and I'm sure that as this too will pass, we can all help him bring this difficult time to a forgiving close. When the full story finally comes out, the world will learn what we already know—that Jeffrey is a good person who does many good things.” Dershowitz told Bloomberg that he doesn’t recall the letter.

3 50 140

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

Spaeth also helped Epstein tailor his vocabulary. She instructed him to use what she called “Good Words,” such as smart, brilliant and lucky—and avoid “Bad Words,” including playboy, powerful and pervert. She taped him to “benchmark and critique whether he seemed authentic.”

She instructed him to use what she called “Good Words,” such as smart, brilliant and lucky—and avoid “Bad Words,” including playboy, powerful and pervert. She taped him to “benchmark and critique whether he seemed authentic.”

4 22 110

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

Reporting on this latest installment by Max Abelson, @suryamattu.com me, Ava Benny-Morrison, Harry Wilson, @jeffkao.bsky.social and @dmehro.bsky.social

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

🚨 EXPLOSIVE NEW report based on the 18K emails @business obtained from Jeffrey Epstein's personal Yahoo account: new details about the academics, attorneys and media specialists who helped him—in different ways and to varying degrees

🧵
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

18 38

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

Epstein had a clear favorite:

FROM: J. Epstein <jeeproject@yahoo.com> To:
DATE: Tue, Feb 26 2008 4:26 AM SUBJECT: Re: letters
third has promise

8 14 120

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

She sent Epstein three versions of a public apology in February 2008, according to emails obtained by @bloomberg.com

DRAFT NUMBER ONE
IAM SORRY
As a child growing up, I was taught to apologize. One apologized for any number of things, and I recall thinking it was unfair when I had to apologize for something I didn't do or something I didn't think was my fault. As I've grown older, I've said *I'm sorry' for events unrelated to me but where an event or outcome caused distress or pain. Those apologies are an expression of` sympathy, a way of saying we care about our fellow human beings,
I have been wrestling energetically with the challenge of how to apologize for actions of mine which caused distress to parents, distracted our courageous members of law enforcement and caused long time friends to question my judgment.
It is too painful to rehash events which have been prominently featured, if mischaracterized, in our local headlines. I fervently hope it will be acceptable for me to simply offer to the community my apologies for associating with young women who turned out to be under the age of eighteen. While some may question my assertion, I did not know. Truly. And I apologize.
Lawyers argue against apologies on the theory that they are an admission of guilt. I disagree. There are now enough facts on the public record for people to make up their own minds. So I hope my apology will be noted and taken as evidence of my concern for my neighbors here in Palm Beach.

APOLOGY #2
Iwish to apologize to my neighbors and friends for my actions which brought scandal and shame to my name and to assure them thatI will conduct myself appropriately in the future.

Apology #3
To my neighbors:
William James, the great 19₩h century medical doctor and religious philosopher, wrote an essay in which he talks about two hours we face. the hour of terror and the hour of satiety. The latter means that time when someone has everything - is "sated" _ and asks "Is this all there is?"
I've been blessed during my life. I've taken advantage of the opportunities offered by the American dream. The rewards have been substantial, but I've experienced that second hour. My life was satiated, and I failed to ask what was really important. What's important is to live so that first hour, the terror of death, is erased by having lived to make a difference in the lives of others. I've been forced to ask myself what's important, and my choices will be different in the future.
This isn't the place to review the sensational charges you may have read about. There are enough facts on the public record for anyone who wishes to review and make up his or her own mind. Please accept my sincere apologies for my selfish actions which have embarrassed me, caused my friends to question my judgment and taken a great deal of time on the part of all levels of law enforcement authorities. Again, this is a public and heartfelt apology-

4 36 140

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

When investigators were closing in on Epstein, he thought about saying sorry. Merrie Spaeth, a sought-after crisis strategist who once served as the director of media relations for Ronald Reagan’s WH, helped him pick his words.

2 35 150

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 12d

🚨 EXPLOSIVE NEW report based on the 18K emails @business obtained from Jeffrey Epstein's personal Yahoo account: new details about the academics, attorneys and media specialists who helped him—in different ways and to varying degrees

🧵
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...

33 500 990

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 13d

NEW: Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan Involved in Detention Contract Talks Despite Recusal

Homan worked to move immigration detention contracts through the Department of Defense.

Via Fola Akinnibi, Rachel Adams-Heard, and Sophie Alexander @bloomberg.com

🎁 www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Trump’s Border Czar Involved in Detention Contract Talks Despite Recusal

Ethics experts say Tom Homan’s participation could violate rules meant to ensure impartiality. The White House says he has not crossed that line.

www.bloomberg.com

4 54 82

Reposted by Jason Leopold

Society of Professional Journalists @spj-posts.bsky.social · 14d

☀️Congratulations to the 2025 Sunshine Award Winners!

- Jason Leopold, Bloomberg
- The Chicago Headline Club
- St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports and The Marshall Project

🔗Read the full press release: www.spj.org/spj-announce...

6 35

Jason Leopold @jasonleopold.bsky.social · 17d

From the Feb 28 edition of my newsletter, FOIA Files

The Story Behind FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s Role in Project 2025

Docs provide a behind-the-scenes look at how Carr was tapped for the chapter on “FCC priorities”—and the swift ethics review that preceded it

www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...

The Story Behind FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s Role in Project 2025

Dozens of pages of emails reveal how Brendan Carr, the FCC’s Republican chairman and close confidante of President Trump, was cleared by ethics officials to write a chapter in the 922-page manifesto w...

www.bloomberg.com

4 66 99

Reposted by Jason Leopold

Robert Jameson @rhjameson.bsky.social · 19d

FOIA Files
Documents Reveal a Deluge of Threats Directed at FEMA

Deadly hurricanes in Florida & North Carolina sparked an influx of online conspiracies, threats vs fed emergency workers, doxxing of govt officials

@jasonleopold.bsky.social

www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet... via @bloomberg.com

Documents Reveal a Deluge of Threats Directed at FEMA

A pair of deadly hurricanes last year in Florida and North Carolina sparked an influx of online conspiracies, threats against federal emergency management workers and doxxing of government officials, ...

www.bloomberg.com

1 11 18