President Donald Trump convened his sixth Cabinet meeting of the year, during which he discussed several significant issues, particularly his administration’s response to the catastrophic flooding in Texas.
Following his brief remarks, Trump entertained a few questions from the reporters present. Many of the initial inquiries revolved around the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facility, and the severe flooding in Texas.
One reporter inquired about allegations that Russia had utilized chemical weapons in Ukraine. According to intelligence from Dutch and German sources, Russian troops have employed drone-delivered choking agents to force Ukrainians from their trenches and shoot them. The United States had previously accused Russia of using chemical weapons last year.
The reporter referenced the findings from Dutch and German intelligence and asked Trump, “What does U.S. intelligence assess, and what is your stance on the use of chemical weapons?”
As she continued speaking, Trump reclined in his chair and gradually turned to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who was seated to the president’s left.
“Are you aware of this, Pete?” Trump murmured while the reporter persisted in her questioning.
“John might have more information,” Hegseth responded, alluding to CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
“I would suggest that John discuss it, if you wish,” Trump said to the reporter. “John?”
“Mr. President, clearly, the use of chemical weapons – if it is verified and utilized – is illegal,” Ratcliffe responded to the president. “It contravenes all international laws of armed conflict and treaties. Naturally, I cannot disclose in this setting the intelligence I can share with you privately. However, it is clear that you will not permit or condone any breaches of international law by anyone.”
“That is correct,” Trump replied. “Thank you.”
A significant moment during the meeting occurred when a reporter inquired of Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the Department of Justice’s statement asserting that there was no evidence indicating that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein maintained a “client list” or was murdered.
The memorandum indicated that investigators discovered “no incriminating ‘client list’” and “no credible evidence … that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals.”
A reporter posed the question, “Could you explain why there is a minute missing from the jailhouse tape on the night of his death?”
Bondi replied, “In February, I participated in an interview on FOX. It has garnered considerable attention because I was asked a question concerning the client list. My answer was that it is on my desk awaiting review. This refers to the file along with the J.F.K. and M.L.K. files. That is what I intended to convey.”
“Regarding the minute missing from the video, we released the footage showing … the video was not definitive, but the evidence leading up to it indicated that he committed suicide,” she further stated.
WATCH:
The Department of Justice has made available previously unseen surveillance footage from the night Jeffrey Epstein passed away while in federal custody—yet skeptical viewers are already questioning the official account.
The video, released on Monday by the DOJ and FBI, depicts the corridor outside Epstein’s cell at the now-defunct Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan on the night of August 9, 2019.
According to federal officials, the footage verifies that no individuals entered or exited the vicinity between 10:40 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., the time frame during which Epstein’s death transpired.
Nevertheless, online investigators noted a conspicuous gap in the footage just hours after its release: a complete minute seems to be absent.
In the timestamp of the video, the footage transitions from 11:58:59 p.m. directly to 11:59:59 p.m., completely omitting the 59 seconds in between.
