Monday briefing: How Trump and his allies flipped and flipped again on the Epstein files

In today’s newsletter: Having once demanded full disclosure, senior Maga figures have attempted to block efforts to publish the records

Good morning. Leading Republicans were once full-throated in their calls for the release of every single scrap of information the US government might hold on the sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to the establishment.

Years of Maga supporters entertaining the QAnon-fuelled frenzy of pizzagate conspiracies seemed to have pushed senior GOP figures in a direction where they believed publication of more information on the Epstein case would expose the Democratic party elite and the “wokerati” of Hollywood as vile sex fiends.

Immigration | Refugees who have established lives with homes and families in the UK – including Ukrainians – will face having to return if their home countries become safe, Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, has said.

BBC | The BBC should not pay any money to Donald Trump, the former BBC director general Tony Hall has said. The US president has said he plans to sue the BBC for up to $5bn (£3.8bn) despite receiving the apology he demanded over a misleading Panorama edit of his 6 January speech.

Roman Abramovich | The former Chelsea owner is making a claim of “conspiracy” against the government of Jersey after the crown dependency launched a criminal investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering in connection with the original source of the oligarch’s wealth.

Cop30 | Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all countries to have the courage to address the need for a fossil fuel phase-out, calling the drawing up of a roadmap for it an “ethical” response to the climate crisis.

Labour | Allies of Angela Rayner say the former deputy prime minister would be likely to run in any future leadership contest and will seek to renew her public profile in the coming months.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

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