Trump slams his own supporters for falling for what he now calls the Epstein ‘hoax’

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is lashing out at his own supporters as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration’s handling of much-hyped records in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. And Trump told reporters Wednesday that “it’s all been a big hoax” that, in his words, has been “perpetrated by the Democrats.” He says “some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans” have fallen “into the net.” The Justice Department and the FBI say Epstein didn’t maintain a “client list” and that no more files related to the investigation would be made public despite promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi that had raised the expectations of conservative influencers and conspiracy theorists.

Measles outbreaks in Illinois and North Dakota have ended

(AP) — Health officials in Illinois and North Dakota say their measles outbreaks are over. The U.S. added 21 new cases since July 9. States with active outbreaks include Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Two elementary school-aged children and an adult have died from measles this year. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne. It is preventable through vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. This year’s U.S. tally is the highest since 1991.

Feds charge 3 current or former La. police chiefs in an alleged visa fraud scheme

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Federal authorities have charged three current or former Louisiana police chiefs with taking bribes in exchange for filing false police reports that would allow noncitizens to seek a visa that lets certain crime victims stay in the U.S. U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook said at a news conference Wednesday that the forged police reports would indicate that the immigrant was a victim of a crime. He said the police officials were paid $5,000 for each name they provided falsified reports for, and that there were hundreds of names. Two other people, including a marshal and a businessman from the small city of Oakdale, are also charged in the alleged scheme.

Judge won’t rule this week on releasing Kilmar Abrego Garcia from jail

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge in Tennessee is not expected to immediately rule on whether to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from jail as he awaits trial on human smuggling charges. A decision to free the Salvadoran national could allow President Donald Trump’s administration to try to deport him for a second time. A hearing to review the matter was being held Wednesday in Nashville. The construction worker who was living in Maryland became a flashpoint over the Republican administration’s immigration policies when he was wrongfully deported to his native El Salvador in March. The U.S. returned Abrego Garcia last month to face the federal smuggling charges. His lawyers say the case is preposterous.