Justice Department Releases FBI Records Detailing Unverified Sexual Assault Allegations Against Trump

Newly published interview summaries tied to the Epstein investigation ignite political clashes as Democrats probe the handling of sensitive documents.

WASHINGTON | The United States Department of Justice has released a series of previously undisclosed FBI interview summaries tied to the broader investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, including allegations made against Donald Trump by a woman who claimed the incident occurred when she was a teenager.

The documents, known as FBI 302 reports, summarize interviews conducted by investigators between August and October 2019. In the reports, a woman—whose name has been redacted—alleges that Trump sexually assaulted her after Epstein introduced them in a private meeting decades ago.

The allegation is not supported by corroborating evidence in the released documents, and Trump has denied any wrongdoing. No criminal charges have been filed against the president related to the claims, and officials say the records primarily reflect an individual’s statements to investigators rather than verified findings.

Texas GOP Shakeup: Tony Gonzales Exit Opens Door for ‘AKGuy’ Brandon Herrera in High-Stakes Border District Race

Democrats see an unexpected opportunity in Texas’s 23rd Congressional District as controversial gun influencer Brandon Herrera emerges as the Republican nominee following Gonzales’ withdrawal.

SAN ANTONIO | A sudden shakeup in one of Texas’ most geographically sprawling congressional districts has transformed the political landscape in the 2026 midterm elections, as Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales withdrew his reelection bid, clearing the path for social media personality Brandon Herrera to become the GOP nominee in Texas's 23rd congressional district.

The sudden shift has energized Democrats who believe the combination of scandal, a polarizing Republican nominee, and shifting Latino voter dynamics could make the traditionally Republican district more competitive than it has been in years.

“This race is definitely more competitive than it’s ever been,” said former Democratic Congressman Pete Gallego, who previously represented the district until 2014.

A District Spanning the Texas Border

Texas’ 23rd District stretches from suburban San Antonio across hundreds of miles of border communities to areas outside El Paso, making it one of the most diverse and geographically expansive districts in the state.

While the district has leaned Republican in recent elections — including a decisive victory there by Donald Trump in 2024 — it has historically been competitive. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton narrowly carried the district in 2016.

Political strategists say that underlying volatility could create an opening if Democratic turnout surges.

Biden Makes Flawed Comparisons with Trump

During a speech in South Carolina on Feb. 27, Joe Biden touted his record as president while criticizing his successor, President Donald Trump. But during his remarks, Biden made several false, misleading, or exaggerated claims.

• The former president claimed that his administration created “2.2 million additional jobs” during his last year in office compared with “185,000 jobs” in the first year of Trump’s second term. But the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that Biden inflated job gains on his watch and undersold job gains under Trump.
• He claimed that the economy experienced “record growth” during his administration, which is not supported by data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. There was higher quarterly and annual economic growth under other presidents.
• He also said that “border crossings” in the U.S. were lower the day he left office than when he entered office. Yes, but total apprehensions of people illegally crossing the southern border in Biden’s last year were still more than double the number in the last year of Trump’s first term.

Biden was in South Carolina to celebrate winning the state’s Democratic presidential primary six years earlier. Biden’s win there helped propel him to the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' FactChecking Claims in Casey Means’ Surgeon General Confirmation Hearing

During her confirmation hearing to become surgeon general, Dr. Casey Means had several back-and-forths with senators, who pressed her on topics including vaccines, her qualifications, and the disclosure of her conflicts of interest.

Means was first nominated by President Donald Trump to be surgeon general in May. The president had scrapped his prior pick, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, after she misled on where she obtained her medical degree. Means testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Feb. 25, after her scheduled October nomination hearing was postponed because she went into labor.

Means, an ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has a medical degree but is not a practicing physician. In nominating Means, Trump cited her “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials” and said she would “work closely” with Kennedy. She is an author, wellness influencer, and co-founder of Levels, a company that offers continuous glucose monitoring and other testing to people who sign up for a monthly membership. (For people without diabetes, there isn’t good evidence that wearing these monitors improves health, and health insurance doesn’t cover these services.) Means has said in government filings that she would divest her Levels stock and stock options if confirmed.

We looked into the sometimes-dueling claims from Means and the senators:

• Senators from multiple parties asked Means about her beliefs on whether vaccines cause autism, correctly noting the extensive scientific literature that has not identified any such link. Means avoided directly sharing her views, instead misleadingly referencing rising autism rates and urging more research into the issue. Experts have said that it’s unclear how much of a true increase in autism there has been.
• Means said that “anti-vaccine rhetoric has never been a part of my message.” Vaccines are not her primary topic, but Means has made numerous public statements discouraging or questioning vaccines that have included incorrect or misleading information.
• Sen. Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Means disagreed over whether she meets the requirements to be Surgeon General because her medical license is inactive. A legal expert told us it’s an “open question,” but it’s a break from precedent for a nominated physician to lack an active license.
• Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Means had failed to disclose financial relationships with companies when promoting products as a wellness influencer, a claim Means denied. The exact timing of the payments relative to Means’ posts is uncertain, but an analysis by the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen suggests “potential” violations of federal rules.

The HELP committee includes 11 Democrats and 12 Republicans and is led by Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who has emphatically defended vaccination. Two Republicans said following the hearing they were uncertain about their votes to advance Means’ nomination to the full Senate, and Cassidy did not comment.

The role of the surgeon general, according to the HHS website, is to be the “nation’s doctor” and to communicate the “best available scientific information” to the American people. The role requires leadership in addressing public health threats and advancing related science. The surgeon general also leads the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, a branch of the uniformed services dedicated to protecting public health.

Assessing Trump’s Claims on Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities

In discussing his reasoning for launching U.S. airstrikes on Iran, President Donald Trump said, “An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American.” But arms control experts have disputed his claim that Iran “soon” could have missiles capable of reaching the U.S., and they say there’s a lack of evidence that the country “attempted to rebuild” nuclear enrichment facilities damaged by U.S. strikes last year.

Trump first made his case for the U.S. and Israeli military bombing, which started on Feb. 28, in two videos that day and the next. In his first remarks, he said, “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.” He specifically focused on stopping Iran from having a nuclear weapon.

“It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular, my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. The White House on March 2 sent out a list of 74 times Trump has said something similar, saying in the press release, “This position — rooted in longstanding, bipartisan American policy — guides his actions to ensure the leading state sponsor of terrorism cannot threaten the world with nuclear devastation.”

Legality of Latest Iran Attack in Question

Many Democrats have claimed that President Donald Trump didn’t have the legal authority to unilaterally order the Feb. 28 joint military airstrikes with Israel that resulted in the death of the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Experts have told us that, under an originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, congressional approval of the use of military force against another country is required. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives the power “To declare War” to Congress.

However, in practice, several presidents have unilaterally ordered military action abroad without authorization from Congress.

In this story, we’ll look at what Democrats have said about Trump’s latest military order and review what experts already told us in similar past cases.

Claims of Illegality

Not long after the attack on Saturday, several Democrats were quick to criticize Trump’s military operation in official statements or media appearances. 

Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said in a Feb. 28 statement on his congressional website, “President Trump promised no more forever wars. Instead, he has illegally dragged us into another one without congressional authorization and no long-term strategy.”

Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia called it an “illegal war” on “Fox News Sunday” on March 1. 

🚨Trump Moves to Replace DHS Chief Kristi Noem, Taps Sen. Markwayne Mullin for Homeland Security Post

President shifts Noem to Western Hemisphere security envoy role as internal frustrations over DHS leadership grow inside the administration.

WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he intends to nominate Markwayne Mullin to serve as the next Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, replacing current department chief Kristi Noem, who will transition to a new diplomatic security role focused on the Western Hemisphere.

The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, signals a significant leadership shakeup at the federal agency responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, and domestic counterterrorism operations.

Trump said Noem would take on a new assignment as special envoy for a regional security initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation with Latin American partners.

“Kristi has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results — especially on the Border,” Trump wrote. “She will now lead our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere.”

The president said further details about the initiative will be unveiled during a summit with Latin American leaders scheduled for Saturday in Florida.

🚤Alabama Legislature Approves HB 254 Limiting Random Boat Inspections by Law Enforcement

New legislation requiring probable cause for vessel stops advances to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk, aligning Alabama boating rules with vehicle stop standards.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The Alabama Legislature has approved a bill that would prohibit law enforcement officers from stopping or boarding boats for random safety inspections without probable cause, marking a significant shift in how marine enforcement is conducted on the state’s waterways.

House Bill 254 (HB 254), sponsored by State Rep. Shane Stringer (R-Citronelle) and carried in the Senate by Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine), extends to Alabama waterways the same legal standard that governs vehicle stops on public roads.

If signed by Governor Kay Ivey, the law will take effect June 1, 2026, requiring officers to establish probable cause before conducting marine safety or sanitation equipment inspections.

Aligning Boating Stops With Vehicle Standards

Supporters of the bill say the legislation strengthens constitutional protections for boaters while still allowing officers to enforce marine safety laws when legitimate concerns arise.

Alabama Legislature Passes HB 214 to Ban Foreign Influence in State Elections

Secretary of State Wes Allen applauds lawmakers after bill targeting foreign political spending clears the Alabama Legislature and heads to the governor’s desk.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama lawmakers have approved legislation designed to prevent foreign nationals and foreign corporations from influencing elections in the state, marking a significant step in the ongoing national debate over election security and political transparency.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, the state’s chief elections official, praised the Alabama Legislature this week after lawmakers passed House Bill 214 (HB 214), which prohibits foreign entities from directly or indirectly contributing money to political candidates, political action committees (PACs), and ballot issue campaigns.

The legislation, which now awaits the governor’s signature, aims to close perceived loopholes in federal law that critics say have allowed foreign-linked funding to flow into ballot initiative campaigns across the United States.

“Alabama’s hardworking men and women deserve elections that are funded honestly and transparently,” Allen said in a statement following the bill’s passage. “This legislation protects Alabama elections from potential manipulation by foreign actors with agendas that do not prioritize American interests.”

Governor Kay Ivey Appoints New Judges in Cullman and Escambia Counties, Strengthening Alabama’s Judicial System

Veteran attorneys Heath Edward Meherg and Wade Leon Hartley were selected to fill key judicial vacancies in Alabama’s 32nd and 21st Judicial Circuits.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday announced two judicial appointments aimed at reinforcing the state’s court system in Cullman County and Escambia County, selecting experienced legal professionals to serve on the bench in two important judicial circuits.

The appointments place longtime attorneys Heath Edward Meherg and Wade Leon Hartley into judicial leadership roles, continuing a series of court appointments made by the governor as part of ongoing transitions within Alabama’s judiciary.

👨‍⚕️Social Work Month 2026: Alabama Public Health Social Workers Lead Efforts to Strengthen Communities and Expand Health Access

Alabama Department of Public Health highlights the critical role of social workers during Social Work Month as professionals address health barriers, advocate for families, and support vulnerable populations statewide.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. | March marks Social Work Month, a nationwide recognition of the professionals who work behind the scenes to improve lives, strengthen families, and address complex social challenges across American communities. In 2026, the theme “Social Work: Uplift, Defend. Transform.” underscores the profession’s expanding influence in public health, education, and community development.

Across Alabama, social workers within the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) are playing a pivotal role in connecting individuals with critical services, advocating for vulnerable populations, and improving health outcomes through community-focused initiatives.

Public health social workers operate as key members of multidisciplinary teams—bridging the gap between healthcare providers, government programs, and local communities. Their work often involves helping families navigate complex systems, removing barriers to care, and promoting prevention strategies that improve long-term health.

“Public health social workers address barriers to help improve the health of the people and communities we serve,” said Bill Kennedy. “Their work to uplift, defend, and strengthen Alabamians is done while respecting personal choice.”