Monday, April 13, 2026. Chump attacks Pope Leo, the peace talks fall apart over the weekend, Chump makes boasts he can't back up, the administration's well known pattern of lying continues, Senator Tammy Baldwin calls on Chump to address the latest avian flue outbreak, and much more.
Further developments today in Chump's war on Pope Leo. So that we're all on the same page, let's drop back to Friday's snapshot:
The
Vatican has cancelled a papal visit to the U.S. for the 250th
anniversary celebration after Pentagon officials appeared to threaten
the leader of the Catholic Church for speaking out against Trump's
foreign policy.
Pope Leo XIV—the first American
Pope in history—strongly condemned U.S. actions in Iran though not by
name in his Easter message, stating that God "does not listen" to world
leaders who wage war.
Leo had already criticized
Trump's actions on Venezuela and his threats against Greenland and
Canada in a speech on January 9th stating, "a diplomacy that promotes
dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a
diplomacy based on force."
In response,
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby summoned Cardinal
Christophe Pierre—the Vatican ambassador to the U.S.—to a meeting. In
diplomatic parlance, an ambassador being summoned to meet with
government officials for a lecture is the first stage in disciplinary
action that can lead to a break off of diplomatic ties.
It
is being reported by The Free Press that in the meeting Colby told
Pierre, "The United States has the military power to do whatever it
wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side."
Someone
in the meeting then reportedly mentioned the Avignon Papacy to Pierre.
This refers to a 14th century attack on the Vatican by the French king,
in which Pope Boniface VIII was murdered by assassins and the Vatican
was forced to relocate to Avignon where it could be controlled by the
French crown for the next 67 years.
The
controversy surrounding the meeting is likely to further inflame
religious pushback to an unusual wave of spiritual saber-rattling by
President Donald Trump’s administration — particularly surrounding the
U.S. government’s military actions in Iran, which the president himself
has suggested are the will of God. Combined with his other incendiary
remarks about the war, the increase in faith-filled militaristic
rhetoric is pitting Trump and his administration against a growing list
of faith leaders, ranging from local clergy to the pope.
Faith
leaders have reacted with frustration to the administration’s penchant
for invoking the divine when discussing the Iran war, which was on full
display earlier Wednesday when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth led a
press briefing at the Pentagon on the five-week-long war with Iran.
After insisting Tuesday evening’s fragile ceasefire deal between the
U.S. and Iran was evidence of a broader military victory, the secretary
intimated the pause in fighting was the result of divine intervention.
After
MS NOW host Willie Geist reported on the exchange, contributor Mike
Barnicle, a lifelong Catholic, made a compelling case that the president
and his underlings created a massive and enduring problem for themselves.
“What do you make of what you're hearing here?” Geist prompted his guest.
“I
make that they are once again clowning the atmosphere up, the Trump
administration, the idea that they would try to intimidate Pope Leo, the
first American-born pope, is just absurd,"the incensed Barnicle
replied.“The idea that they would have anything to say critical of the
Catholic church or the pope itself, the pope himself is absurd,
especially given the Easter morning tweet from the president of the
United States, which was so deeply offensive to any breathing, thinking
human being that it's outrageous for the Trump administration to pose
any problems they allege they have with the Vatican.”
“I
went to parochial school for eight consecutive years, and I got thrown
out nearly every year by the nuns. You know, every grade — you deserve
early stuff like that,” he recalled. But the one thing that you get to,
to hold on to when you're raised Catholic, born Catholic, raised
Catholic, especially by my mother, we used to call her 'my mother, the
nun.' The one thing you retain, I would think, is that the theory of the
Catholic church is rooted in a simple phrase: the least among us.”
“So
if you look at the Trump administration's behavior toward the least
among us, it is almost criminal,” he accused. “It is certainly a sin
because they don't care for the least among us, and that we should all
care for the least among us. Because when we care for them, we care for
ourselves.”
In the wake of the meeting, the Pope reportedly refused Trump's invitation to attend the nation's 250th anniversary events.
Instead
of spending July 4th in the U.S., the Pope will instead visit
Lampedusa, a small Mediterranean island that has become an entry point
for African migrants attempting to reach Europe.
A Vatican official speaking to The Free Press said the Pope has no plans to visit the U.S. while Trump is in office.
“The Pope may well never visit the United States under this administration," the official reportedly said.
Pope Leo has called out the war on Iran and he has called out the US war on immigrants.
60 MINUTES, last night, did a segment on the Catholic Church and the war on Iran and on immigrants.
When President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran this past
week, it came after a chorus of world leaders called for an end to the
war. One of those voices belonged to Leo XIV, the first-ever U.S.-born
pope in the history of the Catholic Church. The 70-year-old pope was
born Robert Prevost and grew up in Chicago. For many years he was known
simply as Father Bob. Leo is measured, deliberate and soft-spoken. But
the American pope has become increasingly outspoken against certain
policies of the American president. So we asked three influential
American cardinals who know him well, why Pope Leo's church has emerged
as a voice of moral opposition to the war in Iran and the crackdown on
immigration.
"Peace be with you:" those were the first words that Pope Leo uttered as the new leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
His
selection was a surprise, celebrated by many of the 53 million that
make Catholicism the largest Christian denomination in the United
States.
Norah O'Donnell: What do you think having an American pope has done for the Catholic Church here in the U.S.?
Cardinal Joseph Tobin: I think it's put Chicago on the map.
Cardinal Blase Cupich: Finally. We're proud - we're proud that we produced a pope. Chicago can say that.
The
archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich, as well as Cardinals
Robert McElroy of Washington D.C., and Joseph Tobin of Newark, New
Jersey, agreed to their first ever joint interview. Their candor
surprised us, about the new pope and what they're hearing in the pews.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin: We're the three American cardinals that are
actively serving dioceses right now. So we listen to a lot of people.
It's part of the job description. And I think we're aware of the
anxieties of people about the threats to peace at all different levels.
Norah O'Donnell: Would you like to see this first American pope be more outspoken on issues that he disagrees with?
Cardinal
Joseph Tobin: He's the pastor of the world. He's not a pundit. So the
distinction is he's not going to pronounce on everything. But he's going
to pronounce on what's important.
He started in January with a speech criticizing U.S. military action in Venezuela.
After
that, the Vatican's ambassador in the U.S. was called to the Pentagon
for a meeting, which two church officials described to 60 Minutes as
unpleasant and contentious. Both the Pentagon and the Vatican have said
since in multiple statements that it was routine and provided an
opportunity for an exchange of ideas.
In March, we traveled to Italy and managed to ask Pope Leo a question about the war in Iran.
Norah O'Donnell: Holy Father, can I ask you what your hopes are for the Middle East?
Pope
Leo XIV: I am praying for peace, I hope that ceasefire would be the
most effective way to work together to find peace for all parties, to
respect all parties and to come to a solution, which is too many years,
and you know, creating problems for everyone, so … Work for peace.
Since
our visit, the pope's tone has sharpened; this past week he issued a
rare condemnation of President Trump's threat to destroy Iranian
civilization. The pope called it, quote "truly unacceptable."
He also took the unusual step of issuing a call to action.
Pope Leo XIV: "Contact the authorities — political leaders,
congressmen — to ask them, tell them to work for peace and to reject war
always."
On Sunday evening, Mr. Trump attacked Leo after several influential American cardinals appeared on “60 Minutes”
to discuss why they had followed the pope in speaking out against the
global and domestic conflicts created by the Trump administration.
“It’s
an abominable regime, and it should be removed,” Cardinal Robert
McElroy said during the “60 Minutes” appearance, referring to the
leadership in Iran. “But this is a war of choice that we went to, and I
think it’s embedded in a wider moment in the United States that’s
worrying, which is this: We’re seeing before us the possibility of war
after war after war.”
Several prominent Catholics have come to the pope’s defense after the president’s attack.
Archbishop
Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
said in a statement: “I am disheartened that the President chose to
write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not his
rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who
speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”
James Joseph Martin Jr., an American Jesuit priest and writer, wrote
on social media: “I doubt Pope Leo XIV will lose any sleep over this,
before he begins his pilgrimage to Africa tomorrow. But the rest of us
should. Because it is unhinged, uncharitable and unchristian. Is there
no bottom to this moral squalor?”
Katie Rogers also notes that in his post, Chump claimed credit for Pope Leo becoming Pope, alleging that it was done -- the choice made -- to appease Chump. His ego is out of control. He trashed the Pope as "weak on crime" and other nonsense.
Chump's post was the posting of a tiny boy who can't grow up.
Pope Leo XIV said on Monday that he was not afraid of the Trump administration, hours after President Trump lashed out at the pontiff on social media.
Leo,
speaking to reporters on a flight to Algeria ahead of a 10-day tour of
several African nations, said: “I have no fear of the Trump
administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel,
which is what I believe I am here to do.” Asked directly about Mr.
Trump’s comments on Truth Social, Leo said: “It’s ironic — the name of
the site itself. Say no more.”
Vice President JD
Vance said on Sunday that 21 hours of peace talks in Pakistan, between
the United States and Iran had failed to produce an agreement to end the
war, leaving the question of what happens after the current two-week
cease-fire up in the air.
“They
have chosen not to accept our terms,” Mr. Vance said in a brief news
conference in Islamabad, though he left open the possibility that terms
could still be reached. “We leave here with a very simple proposal: a
method of understanding that is our final and best offer,” he added.
“We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”
President Donald Trump
was booed while entering a UFC event on Saturday night with his family
walking behind him, just as news broke that negotiations between the
United States and Iran had failed.
Vice President JD Vance
announced the negotiations had stalled without reaching any agreement
over the ongoing war during a speech in Islamabad, Pakistan, while Trump
was walking next to Dana White at UFC 327 in Miami.
Unable to quickly remove Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most important oil transit corridor—with its current equipment, the US is switching tack: President Trump announced Sunday in two Truth Social posts that the Navy will launch its own blockade of “any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave” the passage, and intercept those that have paid Iran’s tolls to cross.
The announcement will almost certainly mean a further spike in oil
prices when markets open on Monday, and it’s a move that does little to
help Trump’s sagging domestic approval, leaving much of Iran’s hold on
the global oil supply intactGasoline costs will keep rising.
Military commitments and expenses, will keep growing. The MAGA coalition
will continue to crack.
Meanwhile, Trump’s two main promises on Hormuz this weekend, to clear
Iranian sea mines from the strait—efforts he said were “starting” in
another Truth Social post Saturday—and to detain “every vessel in
International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” are dubious.
That’s first and foremost because the US doesn’t have the resources
to get rid of the sea mines. State-of-the-art demining vessels, if left
alone by Iran, could clear the strait in a matter of weeks or months.
But the Navy has no “significant mine clearing capability,” the Wall Street Journal reported in March, and its unmanned anti-mine vessels are unreliable even in clear waters that pose far less of a challenge than Hormuz.
Defense
Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chest-thumping claims about Iran’s losses
don’t appear to line up with intelligence assessments.
Iran
still has thousands of ballistic missiles that could be pulled out of
hiding or dug up from underground storage sites, officials familiar with
U.S. intelligence assessments revealed to The Wall Street Journal.
The report undercuts the self-proclaimed secretary of war’s claims that Iran’s missile program has been obliterated.
Hegseth
is only one liar in the administration. Kristi Noem headed a whole
department of liars when she was the Secretary of Homeland Security.
And there's Doctor Oz. Ali Swenson (AP) reports:
President Donald Trump's administration this week acknowledged it made a significant error in figures it used to help justify a fraud probe
into New York’s Medicaid program, a glaring mistake that undercuts a
federal campaign to tackle waste, mostly in Democratic-led states.
The error, which the administration admitted first to The Associated
Press, prompted health analysts to question how many of the Republican
administration’s sweeping anti-fraud efforts around the country were
based on faulty findings. One of a few mischaracterizations it made
about New York's Medicaid program, it also reflected a common criticism
that’s been made of Trump’s second administration — that it tends to
attack first and confirm the facts later.
“These
numbers could have been cleared up in a phone call, so it’s really
slapdash,” said Fiscal Policy Institute senior health policy adviser
Michael Kinnucan, whose recent analysis called attention to the Trump administration’s inaccurate claim.
The mistake appeared in comments made last month by Dr. Mehmet Oz,
the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
in a social media video and in a letter to New York’s Democratic
governor announcing the fraud investigation.
A
February 2025 memo from Bondi directed DOJ attorneys to "vigorously"
defend Trump's policies and referred to them as "his" counsel, according
to a former Justice Department attorney who spoke anonymously to
Bloomberg. The result, sources say, is a culture where lawyers are wary
of pressing federal agencies about the accuracy of information they
receive, because challenging it feels like challenging the boss.
In
March, DOJ lawyers admitted to using incorrect information to defend
migrant arrests in Manhattan, made inaccurate statements in a Rhode
Island hearing about voter records, and missed a key deadline in
Washington state due to unfamiliarity with local procedures.
Again, the entire administration lies. But it's the lies about the Iran war that really register as Americans suffer daily. Robert Reich notes:
Trump
gas — like Trump shoes, Trump cologne, the Trump Bible, Trump shoes,
Trump NFTs, Trump crypto, Trump resorts, Trump University, and
everything else he’s tried to sell as a good deal — is turning out to be
a ripoff.
The
average cost of gas tracked by the AAA was $4.17 a gallon yesterday.
The station at the end of my street is selling it for over $5 now. If
you drive a Mini-Cooper, as I do, which demands premium grade, you’re
shelling out over well over $6.
To put this in perspective, the average price for a gallon of gas in the
U.S. the day before Trump launched his war was $2.98. Between then and
today, the U.S. has experienced the largest increase in gas prices in 60
years.
Let's wind down with this from Senator Tammy Baldwin's office:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
urged the Trump Administration to make good on its promise to address
avian flu outbreaks and deliver much-needed support to Wisconsin farmers
and their workers. Baldwin warns that without urgent action, egg prices
could again spike to 2025 levels, when they hit $6 per dozen. Baldwin’s
call follows three recent avian flu outbreaks in commercial egg-laying
facilities in Wisconsin, which have impacted more than 4.3 million birds
and resulted in over 80 layoffs at local Wisconsin farms.
“I write again regarding the ongoing highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI) outbreak that continues to devastate our nation’s
poultry flocks and dairy herds,” wrote Senator Baldwin in a letter to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “The disease has repeatedly disrupted domestic and global agricultural markets and strained household budgets since 2022.”
“These recent outbreaks could potentially repeat the alarming egg
prices seen in 2025, which peaked at $6 per dozen. Repeated supply
shocks to markets have increased grocery costs across the country,
hurting American consumers when affordability concerns are at an
all-time high,” Baldwin continued.
Since March 2022, Wisconsin has lost 11.6 million birds across 50
commercial and backyard flocks. Between late February and March of this
year, Wisconsin has experienced three major outbreaks in commercial
poultry flocks, affecting more than 4.3 million egg-laying hens. As a
result, two Wisconsin farms have been forced to temporarily lay off more
than 80 employees.
In her letter, Senator Baldwin urged the Trump Administration to move
forward with finalizing and implementing a national avian influenza
vaccination strategy, as included in United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Five-Pronged Approach from February 2025.
In December 2025, Senator Baldwin pushed the Trump Administration
to ramp up its avian flu response as the first dairy herd in Wisconsin
tested positive for avian flu. Last year, Senator Baldwin also led her
colleagues in demanding
the Trump Administration release funding for labs that are dedicated to
early detection, response, and control of animal diseases and outbreaks
like avian flu. Additionally, she called on
President Trump to quickly develop a plan to contain the avian flu
outbreak that is devastating the nation’s poultry flocks and dairy herds
and driving egg costs to reach record highs.
A full version of this letter is available here and below.
Dear Secretary Rollins,
I write again regarding the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza
(HPAI) outbreak that continues to devastate our nation’s poultry flocks
and dairy herds. The disease has repeatedly disrupted domestic and
global agricultural markets and strained household budgets since 2022.
Emergency disease response has been expensive for American farmers and
taxpayers, and down the chain, American consumers have been burdened by
high costs at the grocery store. The Administration must follow through
with its promises in “USDA’s Five-Pronged Approach to Address Avian
Flu,” including by finalizing an avian influenza vaccine policy that
maintains markets for American farmers. These actions must include
strong agency coordination with agricultural, animal health,
environmental and public health industries.
Continued outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza have
resulted in the loss of over 200 million birds nationwide since February
2022, including 11.6 million birds on Wisconsin farms. In the last two
months, Wisconsin has experienced three major outbreaks in commercial
poultry flocks, affecting more than 4.3 million egg-laying hens. This
past December, Wisconsin reported its first confirmed case of the
disease in dairy cattle through the National Milk Testing Strategy.
Exposures typically tied to poultry and dairy operations have resulted
in 71 human cases of avian influenza across the U.S., including one
confirmed case in Wisconsin and two deaths nationwide.
Despite USDA-backed biosecurity measures, migrating wild birds
continue to infect domestic poultry flocks and dairy cattle across the
U.S., making clear that existing containment strategies are
insufficient. Spring migration patterns are expected to increase cases
through May, often impacting poultry flocks with egg-laying hens. These
recent outbreaks could potentially repeat the alarming egg prices seen
in 2025, which peaked at $6 per dozen. Repeated supply shocks to markets
have increased grocery costs across the country, hurting American
consumers when affordability concerns are at an all-time high.
Farmworkers also take financial hits from these outbreaks. Just this
past month, 87 employees have been laid off at two Wisconsin farms
following the depopulation of their flocks due to avian influenza. It is
estimated that these individuals will be without work for five to seven
months while the farms repopulate their flocks. Unfortunately, this is
not the first time Wisconsin farmers have had to temporarily close their
doors and lay off workers, and if the USDA continues to slow walk its
approach in addressing avian influenza, this will certainly not be the
last.
The Administration has yet to make meaningful progress towards the
avian influenza vaccine response called for in USDA’s Five-Pronged
Approach to Address Avian Flu. While the USDA funded $100 million for
its “HPAI Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge,” which included
investments to develop novel vaccines, in the fourth year of the avian
influenza outbreak, there has been no movement to stand up a vaccine
pilot program. At the same time, USDA has spent roughly $2.5 billion
compensating farmers for their extensive losses. Payments for outbreak
response snowball while the status quo continues. American farmers,
taxpayers and consumers cannot continue to absorb these costs.
I once again urge the Trump Administration to deliver on its pledge
to address avian influenza, including by following through on a
nationwide avian influenza vaccination policy. Agriculture and public
health stakeholders are calling for a comprehensive and coordinated
response to avian influenza. As the outbreak continues, farmers and
consumers deserve a response that matches the rising scale and pressing
urgency of this outbreak.
President Trump said Friday that he had
known his wife wanted to speak about Jeffrey Epstein at some point, and
that he “thought she had a right to talk about it,” even if he had not
known what exactly she planned to say.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Mr. Trump said in a brief telephone interview, referring to the remarks Melania Trump made from the entrance hall of the White House a day earlier.
“I didn’t know what the statement was,” he said, “but I knew she was going to make a statement.”
And she did. And it did not work out how she planned if her plan was to draw a clear line between herself and Epstein and Maxwell. Jude Cramer (FAST COMPANY) notes:
If the first lady’s associations with Epstein had recently reentered
the headlines, her speech might have been understandable. But instead,
her statement left many scratching their heads and pointing at her and
her husband’s proven connections to Epstein, particularly the two men’s
friendship in the 1990s.
It also brought renewed attention to the infamous birthday message and lewd drawing
allegedly left for Epstein by Donald Trump in 2003, which read, “A pal
is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday—and may every day be another
wonderful secret.” The president has denied writing the message and sued
The Wall Street Journal’s parent company for defamation after the outlet reported on the letter.
Today, US House Rep James Walkinshaw appeared on MS NOW to talk about Epstein and stated he expected Pam Bondi to show this week on Tuesday to be deposed as she was subpoenaed. If she doesn't, he noted the House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer was willing to hold the Clintons in contempt if they hadn't testified then the same possibility should face Pam Bondi.
DIAZ: But the big takeaway from this is that the first lady also made
demands on Congress. She called for a public hearing focused on the
survivors of Epstein.
CHANG: Well, what are the survivors saying about that request?
DIAZ:
Right now it's sort of a mixed bag because for many of the Epstein's
victims, the release of the files has been really difficult to say the
least. The DOJ released files that were supposed to have victims' names
redacted and didn't in some cases. And there were even naked photos of
some of the victims released as part of this massive document dump.
And
so some survivors don't have trust in the federal government and are
reluctant to participate in a public congressional hearing. One
statement put out and signed by more than a dozen survivors claims the
first lady was just trying to deflect attention from the DOJ and the
administration. By doing that, they said she's putting the burden on
Epstein's victims.
But other survivors do feel differently.
My colleague Ava Berger, who reported the story with me, spoke with
Alicia Arden, who has publicly said she was attacked by Epstein in 1997
when she was a young model. She said she wants to testify in any future
hearing.
ALICIA ARDEN: I don't feel like it's a burden on
me. It helps me to keep talking about it, and if Melania would like to
be with us, I think that would be nice and helpful if we were testifying
next to her.
DIAZ: Gloria Allred is an attorney
representing multiple Epstein survivors. She told Ava that she also
wants to see the first lady testify in front of members of Congress, but
Allred said that if a survivor-centered hearing were to take place, the
women should do so on a voluntary basis, and no one should be
subpoenaed.
CHANG: Well, how much of a commitment is there among lawmakers to hold this hearing?
DIAZ:
Right, so there is a bipartisan support for more to be done on the
Epstein case and to hold a hearing. Republican Representative Nancy Mace
issued a statement supporting the first lady, and so did Democrat
Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
CHANG: OK.
DIAZ:
He said in a statement, essentially, yeah, let's do it. But that's not
really up to him. The committee's Republican chairman, James Comer, has
to decide that, and his office did not respond to NPR's questions.
Today, Marina Lacerda spoke with Alex Witt on MS NOW, "We hae shared our stories over and over again and it's very confusing why we have to do it in a public hearing. [. . .] When the attention is shifting over to President Trump and maybe it's going to be shifting over to the First Lady in the next couple of days, I think she's maybe she's trying to shift the attention back to us. We have done all the work, Alex. We have been -- all the survivors have been on different platforms sharing their whole story. If the public wants to hear our stories, all they have to do is go on to our platforms and hear our stories. Sharing our story in a public hearing will not give us any results."
An Epstein victim is
calling out first lady Melania Trump, asking her to take the stand and
tell her story, and suggesting that both she and her husband should do
the same.
Juliette
Bryant, a South African woman claiming that she was trafficked by
Jeffrey Epstein when she was 20 years old in 2002, released a video via
Instagram following Melania Trump’s April 9th comment, where she
separated herself from the deceased financier and convicted sexual
offender.
“Hello
Melania Trump, my name is Juliet Bryant. I’m an Epstein survivor,”
Bryant stated in the video. “You want girls to testify under oath, well,
here I am testifying that everything I’ve said is true. Unfortunately, a
lot of the girls who testified died. Maybe it’s about time that you and
your husband testified too. Thank you.”
A former model who’s flown on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet and has
close ties to President Donald Trump’s orbit warned late Saturday that
“the truth will come out” after reportedly threatening to “tear down the entire system” by revealing insider knowledge.
That woman is Amanda Ungaro, a former Brazilian model, former ambassador to the United Nations and ex-wife of Paolo Zampolli, Trump’s special envoy and longtime friend. The New York Times reported last month that Zampolli successfully pushed Trump in 2025 to deport Ungaro, then his ex-wife.
Now, Ungaro is vowing revenge.
“Now it’s war,” Ungano told the Spanish news outlet El País in its report published Saturday night.
“We’ll
see who wins. I kept quiet for years, and that’s why people are judging
me. ‘Why are you speaking out now?’ they ask. ‘Because the guy wouldn’t
let me live in peace!’”
Last week, an account on social media apparently belonging to Ungaro issued a series of threats directed at First Lady Melania Trump, vowing to “expose everything I know.” The threats were later suspected to be the potential motivation for the first lady’s surprise statement last week in which she denied having had a relationship with Epstein.
