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US government watchdog to investigate Epstein files release

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The inspector general at the US Department of Justice (DoJ) is opening an investigation into whether the agency is complying with a law passed by Congress forcing the release of files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.

The announcement by the DoJ's internal watchdog comes amid criticism from lawmakers over how the files were released, and millions of other files that have not been made public.

The statement on Thursday said the watchdog would examine the "identification, collection, and production of responsive material" related to Epstein.

It added that "if circumstances warrant," the agency "will consider addressing other issues that may arise during the course of the audit".

It will also examine "guidance and processes for redacting and withholding material consistent with the requirements" in the law.

In November 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, after initially trying to sway lawmakers to vote against it.

The law requires the justice department to release all files related to Epstein and his jailed co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days.

The agency, which has released files in intermittent batches since then, has said it has made over three million files public through its online database.

Some files were later taken offline due to privacy complaints from survivors, leaving roughly 2.7m still publicly available, according to an analysis by CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

In January, a top justice official said that there are some six million files in the government's collection, but that some files would remain private because they contain survivors' personal information or are related to open cases.

Frustration has grown since then with some accusing the justice department of trying to protect powerful people and potential Epstein conspirators, a claim the department has denied.

Last month, the DOJ released summaries of interviews with a woman who made unsubstantiated claims of sexual assault against Trump. The agency said that the documents had been accidentally withheld. Trump, who is mentioned thousands of times in the files including in emails and correspondence sent by Epstein himself to others, has denied any wrongdoing.

Two congressmen who played a prominent role in pushing for the Epstein law – Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie – had been pushing for the inspector general's independent review.

Last month, Massie told the BBC that he was angry about the lack of accountability from the justice department.

"Men need to be perp-walked in handcuffs to the jail, and until we see that here in this country… we don't have a system of justice that's working," he told the BBC Newsnight programme.

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'My living nightmare': Rob Reiner's son on how he found out parents were dead

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The eldest son of the late Hollywood director Rob Reiner has told how his world "collapsed" after his parents were stabbed to death, and his own brother was charged with their murders.

Jake Reiner, 34, wrote in a blog post that "nothing compares to losing both of them at the same time and, on top of that, having your brother be at the center of it".

"My world, as I knew it, had collapsed," the actor wrote of the moment his sister phoned him with the devastating news. "I was in a trance."

Rob and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home in December. Their youngest son, Nick Reiner, 32, has pleaded not guilty to murder. He is due back in court next week.

In a lengthy Substack post published on Friday, Jake Reiner wrote: "We lost more than half of our family that night in the most violent way imaginable."

"Sure, any loss of a parent is devastating, but nothing compares to losing both of them at the same time and, on top of that, having your brother be at the center of it. It's almost too impossible to process.

He continued: "I understand that people have questions about what happened. Some of those answers will come in time. But some parts of this belong only to our family, and keeping them private is the only way to protect what little remains of something that was taken from us."

Rob Reiner, 78, directed films including This Is Spinal Tap, the Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and Stand By Me.

Michele Singer Reiner, 70, was an actress, photographer and producer, and the founder of Reiner Light, a photography agency and production company.

The Reiners were found dead in their Brentwood home by their daughter Romy on 14 December.

The couple died from "multiple sharp force injuries", according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.

Nick Reiner was arrested in Los Angeles the same day, as US outlets reported that he and his father had attended a party the previous night and had a row.

Prosecutors allege that Nick Reiner fatally stabbed his father and mother inside a bedroom of their home before fleeing.

He faces two counts of first-degree murder, with a special circumstance alleging multiple murders.

He remains in custody and is next due in court on 29 April.

Jake Reiner said he keeps thinking about how frightened his parents must have been the night they died and that they were "the last people in the world to deserve what happened to them".

"They deserved to be loved, they deserved to be respected, and above all they deserved to be appreciated for how much they gave to all three of us and to the world," he wrote.

His 1,625-word essay follows a statement released jointly with his sister in December in which they did not directly address the allegations against their brother.

Jake Reiner wrote on Friday that Romy will tell her story separately from him, "in her own way and in her time".

He said that his goal in writing the essay "is to offer some insight. Not only to what I lost but also to celebrate what my parents meant to me".

The actor and former broadcaster describes every day since their deaths as "horrendous".

"Every meeting we take, every person we talk to, every tear we shed, every movement we make is connected to our parents being murdered," he wrote.

He continued: "In the middle of trying to process the most devastating moment of your life, the world demands meetings, paperwork, decisions, and explanations; as if documentation must come before mourning."

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Zack Polanski calls for Trump to be 'kicked out' of his Scottish golf courses

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The leader of the Green Party in England and Wales has called for Donald Trump to be "kicked out" out of his Scottish golf courses and for them to be "brought into community ownership".

Zack Polanski made the comments on a visit to Glasgow as he supported his Scottish Green colleagues ahead of the Holyrood election.

The leader was heavily critical of the US president, saying he had "started illegal and unpopular wars".

Trump International in Scotland responded, saying the comments are "frankly ludicrous and ignorant and made by a man who is an imbecile".

Speaking during a press conference, Polanski said: "It's not for me to tell Scotland what to do either but I'd really like to see Donald Trump kicked out of his golf courses.

"I don't think you should be able to start illegal and unpopular wars and still have golf courses. I'd love to see those golf courses brought into community ownership."

The Green Party leader said the comment was a personal opinion and not a policy of the Greens or the Scottish Greens.

He added the idea of the UK having a "special relationship" with Trump and the United States "does not stand up to any scrutiny".

Donald Trump owns two golf resorts in Scotland – Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire and Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire.

The first located, on the Menie Estate at Balmedie, has two 18-hole courses.

The Old Course opened in 2012 and the US president cut the ribbon on the New Course during his four-day private visit to Scotland last summer.

Trump previously said he built the course in memory of his mother, who was born and raised in Lewis in the Western Isles.

Trump International Scotland hit back at Polanski's remarks.

Sarah Malone, executive vice president, said: "The comments in relation to our golf courses in Scotland are frankly ludicrous and ignorant and made by a man who is an imbecile."

The Green Party leader later responded on social media saying he had "thoughts" about spokespeople who work for Donald Trump.

It's not the first time Donald Trump's name has been aired on the Scottish election campaign trail.

Earlier in the week, the first minister and SNP leader John Swinney declined a White House invitation to a banquet celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US.

Now Zack Polanski wants Trump punished for his "illegal and unpopular wars."

He was asked – but didn't spell out – how these sanctions might apply.

The Trump team response was typically bombastic and Polanski's deft barb back was an amusing retort.

The Polanski position will be viewed as extreme fantasy by the other parties – but he also highlighted the instability in Nato.

That part is uncomfortably real for the UK and Scottish governments – and they now have to deal with worsening economic conditions for their citizens caused by the conflict in Iran.

The King will fly across the Atlantic next week to smooth relations with a man who could be characterised as a modern-day George Washington, railing against the British.

However, Trump's pristine golf courses will remain untouched by any revolutionaries this side of the ocean.

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Ex-Channel 5 newsreader withdraws claims against Dan Walker

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A former Channel 5 News presenter has withdrawn her claims against Dan Walker, who was her co-host at the channel, after reaching a "mutual agreement" with the broadcaster, owned by Paramount, and ITN.

Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, who hosted a show with Walker for a year between 2022 and 2023, had filed claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment on grounds of race and sex, and breach of contract.

However her lawyers said she "can confirm that a mutual agreement has been reached with ITN and Channel 5 in respect of the matters subject to tribunal proceedings. Claudia-Liza fully withdraws her allegations relating to Dan Walker and does not intend to repeat or pursue them."

Walker said on Friday: "Channel 5 and ITN have reached an agreement with the claimant. I firmly feel that I should never have been pulled into this; however, I was fully prepared to go to tribunal and defend the allegations which were levelled at me."

The terms of the case, which was to have been heard at an employment tribunal in London, were not made public.

On being told that the parties had reached an agreement, the judge formally concluded the case by dismissing the claim.

Walker's employers ITN and Channel 5 agreed to pay Vanderpuije an undisclosed amount to withdraw her tribunal, with no admission of liability.

A former BBC Breakfast and Football Focus presenter, Walker joined Vanderpuije as a co-host on Channel 5 News in 2022. Vanderpuije left Channel 5 News in 2024.

Walker said: "I will be forever grateful to those who were kind enough to go on the record with their accounts of working alongside me."

A statement from ITN said: "We continue to deny these claims in full, and we are glad this matter has been resolved."

A Channel 5 spokesperson said: "We strongly reject the claims that were made and are pleased that this matter has been resolved and that all the allegations relating to Dan Walker have been withdrawn."

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