Lisa Rubin

EXCLUSIVE: Months ago, I got an email from an unexpected source: Sarah Kellen, 1 of 4 women named as "potential co-conspirators" in Jeffrey Epstein's sweetheart deal. Now, on the eve of appearing before House Oversight, she wants the world to know she's a survivor too. ms.now/news/set-to-ap…

That opinion is also cited in the Justice Manual: "The Attorney General has plenary power to compromise or settle any civil or criminal case that arises under the internal revenue laws and that the IRS refers to the Department of Justice for prosecution or defense.  See 38 U.S. Op. Atty. Gen. 98 (1934)."

This footnote in Judge Williams' order mandating further briefing from Trump re: the IRS settlement is key. As @lawofruby points out, a 1934 opinion of the then-Attorney General states that although the AG has broad, plenary authority to settle cases, he may not settle matters that have not yet been referred to the DOJ for prosecution or defense.

Today's trifecta of court rulings affecting Trump: 1) a block of the Anti-Weaponization Fund until 6/12, 2) a decision preventing his adding his name to the Kennedy Center, and 3) tonight's order that he explain whether his settlement with IRS and Treasury was collusive and whether the case should be reopened due to a fraud on the court.

NEW: The federal judge overseeing Trump's lawsuit versus the IRS orders him to respond to a motion by 35 former judges to reopen the case on grounds that there was a fraud on the court. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…

In a footnote, the judge notes DOJ "'was unable ... to provide assurances of how long [the] status quo would last' and declined plaintiffs' request that the government commit to not transferring money to the Fund or processing or paying claims until at least June 19 to allow for less compressed briefing in this case.”

DOJ's unsigned July 2025 memo: "This systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list.' There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."

Bondi's opening statement: "Our stance has always been that the Department stands ready to review any potential evidence of criminal activity related to Epstein and his associates and would pursue appropriate investigative or prosecutorial action wherever the facts and law warrant." 1/

@JayShams She also shared that with prosecutors in SDNY when she proffered years ago.

Sarah Kellen told members of the House Oversight Committee last week that she was sexually abused by other people before meeting Jeffrey Epstein.

It’s worth asking the question federal prosecutors in Chicago now must answer: Do the facts outlined above suggest inadvertence and good faith, or an intentional falsehood in order to disguise malice toward Trump? FIN.

Yet the federal statutes criminalizing perjury require that the allegedly false statements be made knowingly and/or willfully. 8/

The new DOJ investigation of E. Jean Carroll, according to CNN, stems from her testifying at her 2022 deposition that her lawyers were handling her case on contingency and that no one else was funding her case. But correspondence filed in the first-tried Carroll case reflects that it was always more complicated. 1/

NEW: While Epstein survivors, their lawyers and allies debate whether or not DOJ’s senior leadership has, in fact, listened to and met with survivors, NM AG Raul Torrez publicly is encouraging anyone who wants such a hearing to contact his office.

This. There are several legal issues with the Trump settlement agreement that creates the Anti-Weaponization Fund. But this isn't one of them.

BREAKING: Judge Flanagan signed off on Comey's request to delay key deadlines. The "sea shell" trial is now set to begin October 21. Comey will be arraigned on September 30. @MSNOWNews