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Jeffrey Epstein's island pictured in 'never-before-seen' images released by House Oversight Committee
Images and video of Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island have been released by politicians in the US.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said they were "a harrowing look behind Epstein's closed doors".

"We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein's horrific crimes," said representative Robert Garcia.

The images are from Little Saint James island, part of the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein is believed to have abused underage girls.

Faces of men hang on the wall in one room - which also appears to be equipped with a dentist's chair, while the words "deception", "power" and "truth" are written in chalk in the study.

"We won't stop fighting until we end this cover-up and deliver justice for the survivors," the committee said on X.

Live updates - Images show Epstein's island

Mr Trump previously opposed releasing the files, calling them a "hoax", but last month he changed his mind and US Congress overwhelmingly voted in favour.

The US Department of Justice now has until mid-December to release thousands of documents linked to civil and criminal cases involving Epstein.

It could shed more light on the paedophile financier, who socialised with figures including Donald Trump, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson.

Some details have already been revealed after more than 20,000 other files disclosed last month - but much more is set to follow.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act demands release of all files relating to Epstein, including investigations, prosecutions, immunity and plea deals, as well as records connected to Ghislaine Maxwell.

Any flight logs and travel records for Epstein's vehicles must also be disclosed, as must individuals named in relation to his criminal activities.

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Politicians have said the files' release is critical to uncovering whether powerful figures received special treatment or protection.

It is also a response to criticism of a controversial 2008 plea deal in Florida, which allowed Epstein to avoid federal sex trafficking charges and plead guilty to lesser state charges.

Epstein killed himself in a prison cell in New York in 2019 but conspiracy theories remain over his death and the people he associated with.

Documents related to his death, such as witness interviews and post-mortem reports, must also be released under the law passed last month.


Matthew Perry's parents say doctor is 'among most culpable of all' ahead of first sentencing over star's death
Matthew Perry's parents have criticised the "jackals" involved in dealing drugs to the star - and accused a doctor of being "among the most culpable of all" ahead of his sentencing today.

Emotional victim impact statements by Perry's mother Suzanne and stepfather Keith Morrison, and father John and stepmother Debbie, have been submitted to the US district court for Central California ahead of Salvador Plasencia's hearing.

They say "no one alive and in touch with the world" could have been unaware of the Friends star's struggles with addiction, and that the doctor broke his vows "repeatedly" to "feed on the vulnerability of our son".

Plasencia, 44, is the first of five people to be sentenced in connection with the 54-year-old's death, and has pleaded guilty to illegally selling him large amounts of ketamine. He is not accused of selling the dose that killed the actor, but had been supplying the drug to him in the weeks beforehand.

Perry was found in his hot tub by his assistant in October 2023. A medical examiner later ruled that ketamine and other factors had caused him to lose consciousness and drown.

In their letter filed to the court, Suzanne and Keith Morrison share their grief, saying they feel a "confusion of emotions".

Anger "seethes away down deep, whether you want it to or not", they say, detailing how they play out "unalterable events, over and over and over" in their minds, "as if it could make any difference now".

They also write about the impact Perry's death has had on others, saying they often find Friends mementos, as well as flowers and notes and other tributes, left at his grave.

The star's story "moved so many people", they add. "And he wanted, needed, deserved a third act. It was in the planning. And then, those jackals."

'This doctor conspired to break his most important vows'

Saying they find Plasencia's actions "truly hard to understand", they tell the judge: "I believe the man you are going to sentence today is among the most culpable of all...

"Why become a doctor? To cure the sick of course. To heal people. To save lives."

Crimes can be easier to understand in some circumstances, they say. "Maybe in the heat of passion, or because that person makes one very bad decision… Or some drug dealer, bad to the bone, who takes the calculated risk of getting caught and spending many years in prison.

"But… a doctor? Who trades on respect, and trust? And not just one bad decision. No one alive and in touch with the world at all could have been unaware of Matthew's struggles.

"But this doctor conspired to break his most important vows, repeatedly, sneaked through the night to meet his victim in secret. For what, a few thousand dollars? So he could feed on the vulnerability of our son."

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'You don't deserve to hear our feelings'

Addressing Plasencia directly in their statement, John and Debbie Perry say: "You don't deserve to hear our feelings. How you devastated our family contributing to the loss of Matthew, our only son."

They describe Perry as a "warm, loving man" and say his recovery counted on Plasencia "saying NO".

Their letter continues: "Your motives? I can't imagine. A doctor whose life is devoted to helping people?

"How long did you possibly see supplying Matthew countless doses without his death to eventually follow? Did you care? Did you think?"

Prosecutors are asking Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett to sentence Plasencia to three years in prison.

John and Debbie Perry have asked the court to extend the sentence beyond the mandatory period.

Ahead of sentencing, Plasencia's lawyers have described him as a man who rose out of poverty to become a doctor beloved by his patients, and say his selling to Perry was "reckless" and "the biggest mistake of his life".

In their sentencing memo, they say "remorse cannot begin to capture the pain, regret and shame that Mr Plasencia feels for the tragedy that unfolded and that he failed to prevent".

However, they say Plasencia has already lost his medical licence and career, and a prison sentence is "neither necessary nor warranted".

The other four people charged in connection with Perry's death have also accepted plea deals and are due to be sentenced over the next few months.

They are: dealer Jasveen Sangha, also known as "the Ketamine Queen", Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, another doctor, Mark Chavez, and Erik Fleming, an associate of the actor.


Engineer loses case against her employer over transgender toilet policy
An engineer who took aerospace giant Leonardo UK to an employment tribunal for having to share women's toilets with transgender colleagues has lost a discrimination claim.

Maria Kelly alleged harassment related to sex, direct sex discrimination and indirect sex discrimination.

Ms Kelly took action after lodging a formal grievance with the company.

The tribunal was heard in Edinburgh in October, but all of her claims have now been dismissed by employment judge Michelle Sutherland.

Ms Kelly said she believes the outcome "fundamentally misunderstands both the law and my case", as she announced plans to appeal.

In a written judgment published on Wednesday, Ms Sutherland said Leonardo UK's position was that "one out of 9,500 employees raised a concern about the impact of the policy despite multiple means to do so".

She found there was no "disadvantage" due to the policy.

Ms Sutherland added: "Any fear or privacy impact could be addressed by affected female staff making recourse to the single occupancy facilities.

"Any effect on risk of assault arising from 0.5% of men using the women's toilets instead of the men's toilets would not have changed the overall risk profile across toilet facilities generally.

"In the circumstances of this case, the toilet access policy was in the alternative a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim."

The case followed the UK Supreme Court judgment in April which ruled the terms "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

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Ms Kelly, people and capability lead for the firm, had told the tribunal she began using a "secret" toilet at her workplace after encountering a transgender colleague in a female bathroom in March 2023.

She said she had first become aware of a transgender person using the female toilets in 2019 but did not raise the issue with the company at the time as she feared being labelled "transphobic" or being put on the "naughty list".

Ms Kelly said: "I am of course disappointed by the judgment, which I believe fundamentally misunderstands both the law and my case.

"I intend to appeal, and I will ask the EAT (Employment Appeal Tribunal) to consider expediting my appeal as the decision risks further confounding the already widespread misunderstanding and defiance of the Supreme Court's judgment in For Women Scotland."

Maya Forstater, chief executive of charity Sex Matters, said: "This judgment interprets the law as transactivists would wish it to be, and is incompatible with the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland in several places.

"It is incredible that even after the highest court in the land has ruled that the law recognises men and women in terms of biological sex, there are lower courts still trying to see the world in terms of gender identity."

Leonardo UK acknowledged the tribunal's judgment.

A spokesperson for the firm added: "We recognise that the process has been demanding for everyone involved and we appreciate the professionalism shown by colleagues who supported the proceedings.

"Our focus now is to ensure that workplace conduct remains respectful and that our facilities' policies continue to meet legal standards.

"We will review the forthcoming Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance when it is published and will make any adjustments that are required.

"Leonardo remains a supportive and inclusive environment for all employees."


Donald Trump pardons Democrat congressman and his wife charged in bribery case
US President Donald Trump has pardoned a moderate Democrat and his "wonderful" wife after they were charged with bribery.

Mr Trump said he was granting a "full and unconditional pardon" to the "beloved" 70-year-old Democratic House Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas, who has served in Congress for more than two decades, and his wife Imelda.

Mr Cuellar, who represents an area on the Texas-Mexico border, has a history of breaking with his party on issues including immigration and firearms.

The couple were last year indicted for allegedly accepting close to $600,000 (£449,600) in bribes in two schemes meant to benefit an Azerbaijani state-owned energy company and an unnamed bank based in Mexico.

Posting on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, Mr Trump said, without providing evidence, that Mr Cuellar and his wife had been prosecuted because the congressman had been critical of former US president Joe Biden's immigration policies.

"For years, the Biden Administration weaponized the Justice System against their Political Opponents, and anyone who disagreed with them," Mr Trump said.

"One of the clearest examples of this was when Crooked Joe used the FBI and DOJ to 'take out' a member of his own Party after Highly Respected Congressman Henry Cuellar bravely spoke out against Open Borders, and the Biden Border 'Catastrophe.'

"Sleepy Joe went after the Congressman, and even the Congressman's wonderful wife, Imelda, simply for speaking the TRUTH," the US president wrote, adding: "Henry, I don't know you, but you can sleep well tonight.

"Your nightmare is finally over!"

Mr Cuellar has said he and his wife are innocent. The couple's trial had been set to begin next April.

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Mr Cuellar reacted on X, saying: "I want to thank President Trump for his tremendous leadership and for taking the time to look at the facts."

He went on: "This decision clears the air and lets us move forward for South Texas.

"This pardon gives us a clean slate. The noise is gone. The work remains. And I intend to meet it head on.

"Thank you Mr. President, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."


Fake nurse, 46, who fraudulently pocketed more than £170,000 jailed
A man who posed as a registered nurse, earning more than £170,000 from his fraudulent activity, has been jailed for more than three years.

Ashton Guramatunhu appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, where he was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

Guramatunhu, 46, of Middlepark Road, Dudley, had pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing.

The court heard how in late 2014, Guramatunhu registered with a nursing agency in Warrington using the identity of a registered nurse to gain employment.

He went on to work at six nursing homes in the northeast of England between 1 January 2015 and 5 April 2019, earning an estimated £172,921 through his fraudulent activity, Cheshire Police said.

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In January 2019, the nurse whose identity had been used by Guramatunhu was contacted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council concerning an incident, and his fitness to practice, at a care home he had never worked at.

The incident was reported to Cleveland Police, and an investigation was launched. The case was passed to Cheshire Police in 2020 after it was established that Guramatunhu was registered to an agency in Warrington.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Naomi Sargent, who led the investigation, said: "Guramatunhu should never have been working as a nurse. While he had been to university, his previous convictions meant that he was not suitable to work in the care sector.

"He put the lives of innocent patients at risk, purely for his own financial gain, and I have no doubt that he would have continued his offending had he not been arrested.

"The sentence handed to him by the court reflects the severity of his actions, and I hope that it acts as a warning to others."


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