Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'extremely salacious' Epstein comments

Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'extremely salacious' Epstein comments

WASHINGTON (AP) — First ladyMelania Trumpdemanded thatHunter Bidenretract comments linking her to sex traffickerJeffrey Epsteinand threatened to sue if he does not. Trump takes issue with two comments Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, made in an interview this month with British journalist Andrew Callaghan. He alleged that Epstein introduced the first lady to now-PresidentDonald Trump. The statements are false, defamatory and "extremely salacious," Melania Trump's lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote in a letter to Biden. Biden's remarks were widely disseminated on social media and reported by media outlets around the world, causing the first lady "to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm," he wrote. Biden made the Epstein comments during a sprawling interview in which helashed outat "elites" and others in the Democratic Party he says undermined his father before he dropped out of last year's presidential campaign. "Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep," Biden said in one of the comments Trump disputes. Biden attributed the claim to author Michael Wolff, whom Trumpdisparagedin June as a "Third Rate Reporter." He has accused Wolff of making up stories to sell books. The first lady's threats echo a favored strategy of her husband, who has aggressively used litigation to go after critics. Public figures like the Trumps face a high bar to succeed in a defamation lawsuit. The president and first lady have long said they were introduced by Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agent, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998. The letter is dated Aug. 6 and wasfirst reportedWednesday by Fox News Digital. Abbe Lowell, a lawyer who has represented Biden in his criminal cases and to whom Brito's letter is addressed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday. ___

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August 13, 2025

Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'extremely salacious' Epstein comments

Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'extremely salacious' Epstein comments WASHINGTON (AP) — First ladyMelania Trumpdemanded ...

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Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughter Maddie, 17, Breaks Silence on ATV Accident That Left Her in a Coma

Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughter Maddie, 17, Breaks Silence on ATV Accident That Left Her in a Coma

Maddie Watson/Youtube; Emma McIntyre/Getty Jamie Lynn Spears is sharing how proud she is of her older daughter The 'Sweet Magnolias' star praised her teenage daughter, Maddie, for addressing all the "not so fun" aspects of her life Spears' daughter was in a near-fatal ATV crash when she was 8 Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter is addressing her near-fatal accident for the first time. On Tuesday, Aug. 12, Spears' 17-year-old daughter Maddie posted a video onher YouTube channelwhere she addressed several different injuries she's sustained over the years. At one point, Maddie referred to — for the first time publicly — thetraumatic ATV accidentshe got in when she was just 8 years old. "I did have an accident though," Maddie says at one point. "I was in a coma, and I came back to life, and I'm very blessed. So yeah, I've just been very accident-prone. I swear my parents are amazing and they did not do anything to me." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. After Maddie shared her video, Spears reposted the clip on Wednesday, Aug. 13 toher Instagram. The mom of two wrote in her caption that she's so proud of her daughter for speaking out about the "not so fun" parts of her life. "What was supposed to be a fun way to document her senior year on@youtubehas now turned into a way for her to share the not so fun parts of life too," Spears wrote in her caption. "You can work so hard, and do everything right, yet still face adversity, no matter what path you're on in life. You can't control everything that happens to you, but you can decide how you react to what happens to you." "I know being a resilient person is one of the best qualities a human can have, but it's only earned by having no other choice but to be resilient," the mom of two continued. "Gotta trust Gods plan. I'm so proud of this kid, she never lets anything or anyone sit her down, and sharing her journey through it all hopefully inspires others to never stop going hard for what they want out of life. LFG 🤙🏻." Spears shares daughter Maddie with her ex-fiancé Casey Aldridge. She is also mom to daughter Ivey, 7, whom she shares with husband Jamie Watson. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf In February 2024, Spears shared a carousel of photos onher Instagramas she honored the seventh anniversary of her daughter Maddie'snear-fatal ATV crash. Posting pictures of Maddie in the hospital room, as well as a few photos of Spears in bed with her daughter, the star took a minute to reflect on the experience. "Today is our#MIRACLEANNIVERSARY🕊️ Every year that passes and I watch my daughter grow up, the more I realize how very blessed we are, and never want to take that for granted," Spears wrote. Jamie Lynn Spears Instagram "Again, thank you to all the healthcare professionals who made the life saving decisions, and thank you to each and every person who prayed for our baby girl. Thinking of Father Mark today, although he is in heaven now, he was always like an angel on earth for us, especially on this day 7 years ago🤍🤍." On an episode of the U.K. reality TV showI'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Herein November 2023, Spears opened up about the accident. "I almost lost my oldest daughter," she explained. "She drowned and we couldn't save her. We tried really hard. She was trapped under a little side-by-side that we ride around our pond." "My father-in-law, my mother-in-law, me and my husband, we run to jump in to save her and you kind of — in that moment you think, 'This is not real. She's going to pop up, this isn't real,' " she added. "I could feel her arm, and I'm jerking it, I couldn't get her up because it's apretty heavy machine. In that moment you think, you know logically she's been underwater too long." Read the original article onPeople

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August 13, 2025

Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughter Maddie, 17, Breaks Silence on ATV Accident That Left Her in a Coma

Jamie Lynn Spears' Daughter Maddie, 17, Breaks Silence on ATV Accident That Left Her in a Coma Maddie Watson/Youtube; Emma McIntyre/Gett...

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‘South Park’ Ratings Surge: Kristi Noem, JD Vance Takedown Episode Earns Most Viewers Since 2018 on Comedy Central

'South Park' Ratings Surge: Kristi Noem, JD Vance Takedown Episode Earns Most Viewers Since 2018 on Comedy Central

"South Park" is on a roll. The show's most recent Season 27 episode, "Got a Nut," averaged 6.2 million global multiplatform viewers in its first three days of release — which was up from the show's heavily touted season premiere. The total viewers number is over the three-day period of Aug. 6 to Aug. 8 and includes viewers across Paramount+ and Comedy Central (total global watch time divided by run time). The show is also outperforming in linear, scoring its highest live+3 rating for Comedy Central since 2018 — and according to the cabler, this most recent episode posted the biggest-ever young adult viewership share in "South Park" history. More from Variety 'South Park' Doubles Down on Kristi Noem With Paramount+ End Credits Scene Featuring Her on Shooting Spree at a Pet Store Kristi Noem Slams 'South Park' as 'Petty' After Show Mocks Her for Plastic Surgery and Makeup: 'It's Always the Liberals' Who 'Make Fun of Women for How They Look' 'South Park' Mocks a Puppy-Shooting Kristi Noem and JD Vance Offers to Rub Baby Oil on Satan in Wild New Episode Season 27, Episode 2 of "South Park" posted a 1.531 rating in adults 18-49 (live+3) — that was up 54% (from 0.996) for the season premiere on July 24. The adults 18-49 share (which means the percentage of people watching TV at that moment) was 15.61, up 70% from the premiere episode (9.20). In total viewers on Comedy Central, "South Park" averaged 1.56 million in live+3, up 46% from the season premiere's 1.07 million. All of that easily made "South Park" the No. 1 telecast on Aug. 6 across all cable; it was also No. 2 in all of TV — bested only by CBS' "Big Brother." The second episode of this so far landmark "South Park" seasontook on United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem(continuously shooting dogs and arresting anyone Latino) as well as a "Fantasy Island" style Mar-a-Lago with Donald Trump as Ricardo Montalbán's Mr. Roarke andJD Vanceas Hervé Villechaize's Tattoo. ICE utilized a still from that episode's teaser to promote its website, leading the official "South Park" X account to respond, "Wait, so we ARE relevant? #eatabagofdicks." After the episode ran,Noem criticized the showfor her depiction as "lazy" and "petty." Later, "South Park" released a post-credits scene that didn't make it to air butshowedNoem walking into a pet store and opening fire on the puppies inside. Episode 2's ratings bump came even though "South Park" took an extra week's rest between episodes 1 and 2 of the new season; the show will once again take a break on tonight's episode — instead, to mark "South Park Day," Comedy Central will repeat the show's very first episode (which first aired on Aug. 13, 1997), "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe." A new episode will be back on Aug. 20. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

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August 13, 2025

‘South Park’ Ratings Surge: Kristi Noem, JD Vance Takedown Episode Earns Most Viewers Since 2018 on Comedy Central

'South Park' Ratings Surge: Kristi Noem, JD Vance Takedown Episode Earns Most Viewers Since 2018 on Comedy Central "South Park...

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Man is accused of stalking and harassing family of slain CEO

Man is accused of stalking and harassing family of slain CEO

ANew York state man was chargedwith stalking and harassing loved ones of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, authorities said Wednesday. Shane Daley, 40, was arrestedand accused of "sending harassing and threatening voicemail messages to a family member" of Thompson, according to federal prosecutors in Albany. They said the menacing calls were made from Dec. 4 to Dec. 7 in the hours just after Thompson was gunned down in midtown Manhattan. "In a series of voicemail messages, Daley used threatening and harassing language that focused on, among other things, Thompson's killing, expressed satisfaction over the fact and manner of his death, and stated that the victim and Thompson's children deserved to meet the same violent end," prosecutors said in a statement. Thompson's slaying sparked waves of callous praise onlineimmediately after the shooting. Daley is from Galway, New York, about 35 miles northwest of Albany, the state capital. Daley's attorney Samuel Breslin, declined comment. No one picked up the phone on Wednesday afternoon at publicly listed phone numbers for Daley and his parents. Daley was released from custody under GPS monitoring and prohibitions against possessing firearms or consuming alcohol, a spokesperson for federal prosecutors said. Daley is scheduled to appear in court again Thursday afternoon, when additional conditions of his release are expected to be added, the spokesperson said. The cyberstalking charge carries a maximum term of five years in prison, officials said. Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York office, said Daley's calls were "more than callous and cold-hearted." "They were threatening and terrified a family already suffering following the violent death of their loved one," he said. Thompson wasgunned down at about 6:44 a.m. on Dec. 4 on Sixth Avenue, near the New York Hilton Midtown, touching off a massive manhunt throughout the Northeast. Luigi Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and brought back to New York City wherehe's facing both stateandfederal charges.

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August 13, 2025

Man is accused of stalking and harassing family of slain CEO

Man is accused of stalking and harassing family of slain CEO ANew York state man was chargedwith stalking and harassing loved ones of slain ...

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Coffee Sold in 48 States Recalled for Potential Glass Fragments

Coffee Sold in 48 States Recalled for Potential Glass Fragments

Getty Dollar General recalled 8-oz. Clover Valley Instant Coffee on Aug. 11 The FDA reported that the reason for the recall is potential glass contamination Affected products were distributed nationwide between July 9 and July 21 Instant coffee sold across the country is being recalled for possible glass contamination. Dollar General Corporation issued a recall on 8-oz. Clover Valley Instant Coffee on Monday, Aug. 11, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)report. The affected product was sold between July 9 and July 21, per the report, and distributed to 48 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. There are three lots affected by the recall. Specifically, the recalled items have a UPC 876941004069 and Lot numbers L-5163, L-5164 and L-5165. The best-by dates range from Dec. 13, 2026, to Dec. 14, 2026. According to the FDA, the issue was raised after a customer notified Dollar General. Consuming glass fragments can cause injuries like "damage to teeth, laceration of the mouth and throat, or perforation of the intestine," according to the FDA. No illnesses or injuries have been reported as of Tuesday, Aug. 12. Dollar General did not immediately respond to PEOPLE when asked to comment on the recall. Recently, over 12,000 packages of 10-countFavorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies for potential wood contamination. The FDA initiated the recall on July 22 and it was classified as Class II — the second-highest warning level — on Aug. 4. Read the original article onPeople

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August 13, 2025

Coffee Sold in 48 States Recalled for Potential Glass Fragments

Coffee Sold in 48 States Recalled for Potential Glass Fragments Getty Dollar General recalled 8-oz. Clover Valley Instant Coffee on Aug. 11 ...

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Trump's D.C. Takeover Yields 66 Arrests; More Guard Troops Coming Wednesday

Trump's D.C. Takeover Yields 66 Arrests; More Guard Troops Coming Wednesday

Department of Homeland Security and U.S. marshal personnel perform a traffic stop on a individual allegedly with expired tags and no drivers license on August 12, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit - Andrew Leyden–Getty Images Federal authorities arrested 66 people in Washington, D.C. over the first two nights of President Donald Trump'stakeover of the city's police force, a White House official tells TIME, adding that the nation's capital can expect to see even more National Guard members across the city Wednesday evening. Forty-three of those arrests occurred overnight on Tuesday, nearly double the amount of the previous night, as more federal agents and National Guard troops arrived in the city to patrol streets as part of Trump's effort to crack down on crime, which has beenfalling in the cityover the last two years. The aggressive federal intervention came after Trump on Monday invoked ararely used provisionof the 1973 Home Rule Act, allowing the president to place the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control for up to 30 days during a declared public safety emergency. Trump has said he will ask Congress to extend his authority beyond the 30-day limit. More than 1,450 law enforcement officers and agents were involved in Tuesday night's operation, about half of them from the city's police department. The National Guard's role has so far been limited. Only about 30 troops were on D.C. streets Tuesday night, though officials say as many as 800 could eventually be mobilized to protect federal sites and assist in other non-arrest functions. On Tuesday evening, a small group of Guard members in military vehicles appeared near the Washington Monument, where they were seen taking photos with visitors before departing two hours later. The White House official tells TIME that plans are underway for "a significantly higher National Guard presence" throughout the city on Wednesday night. The President has described daily life in Washington, D.C. in apocalyptic terms and framed the intervention as a necessary response to what he called an "out-of-control" crisis due to "thugs" and "gang members." But city statistics show a different picture: overall crime has declined sharply since 2023, with homicides, robberies, and carjackings all falling. The White House official said that federal authorities have so far arrested 103 people in D.C. since the Administration started rolling out an increased law enforcement presence last Thursday, with 19 mixed-agency teams fanning out across neighborhoods to "promote public safety and arrest violent offenders," the White House said. The operation has included agents from the F.B.I., the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, working alongside local police. In other parts of the city, federal agents were spotted conducting traffic stops and making arrests. Charges over the first two nights have included assault with a deadly weapon, homicide, drug possession with intent to distribute, unlawful entry, resisting arrest, lewd acts, stalking, reckless driving, and driving under the influence, the official said. Thirteen illegal firearms have been seized since Monday night. The White House has signaled that the crackdown will also focus on dismantling homeless encampments, with officials offering those affected access to services like substance abuse counseling but threatening fines or arrest for those who refuse to relocate. Jeanine Pirro, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the District, has called for tougher sentencing laws, particularly for juveniles she accuses of driving much of the city's violent crime. "Young criminals have been emboldened to think they can get away with committing crime in this city," she wrote in aWashingtonPostopinion pieceon Tuesday night. Trump's use of federal force in the nation's capital has drawn parallels to his 2020 deployment of the National Guard during racial justice protests, when officers forcibly cleared demonstrators from Lafayette Square and military helicopters performed low-altitude maneuvers over city streets. Since Washington, D.C. is not a state, the President is able to deploy the National Guard and assume control of its police during declared emergencies. The lack of statehood also means the 700,000 residents of the city have no voting representation in Congress. Asked on Wednesday about the long-standing push for D.C. statehood, Trump called the proposal "unacceptable" and "ridiculous." Write toNik Popli atnik.popli@time.com.

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August 13, 2025

Trump's D.C. Takeover Yields 66 Arrests; More Guard Troops Coming Wednesday

Trump's D.C. Takeover Yields 66 Arrests; More Guard Troops Coming Wednesday Department of Homeland Security and U.S. marshal personnel p...

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