Trump says his Fed nominee Warsh could pick up support from Democrats

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. ​President Donald Trump said ‌he thinks Kevin Warsh, his pick ‌to head the Federal Reserve, could pick up votes from some Democrats ⁠in the ‌Senate, calling him a "high-quality person" who should ‍not have any trouble winning Senate confirmation.

Trump, a Republican, told ​reporters aboard Air Force ‌One on Friday that he expected Warsh to lower interest rates if confirmed, citing Warsh's comments in interviews ⁠and other ​statements.

Asked if Warsh ​had made any commitments to do so, Trump ‍said, "I ⁠don't want to do that. I couldn't do that."

(Reporting ⁠by Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by ‌Andrea Shalal; Editing by ‌William Mallard)

byVincento Seyarto

in

January 31, 2026

Trump says his Fed nominee Warsh could pick up support from Democrats

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. ​President Donald Trump said ‌he thinks Kevin Warsh, his pick ‌to head the ...

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Italians furious over deployment of ICE agents to bolster US security at Winter Olympics

Outrage is growing in Italy over the deployment ofImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agentsto assist US security operations at the Winter Olympicsnext month– something US officials say has been common practice at previous Olympics.

Current and former lawmakers urged Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to intervene and block their presence in the wake of two fatal shootings during Trump'songoing immigration crackdownin Minneapolis.

The former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte urged the country's government to "set our own limits" and "make clear decisions," following increasinglyaggressive tacticsby the agency in the US.

"After street violence and murders in the US… We cannot allow this," Conte posted on X on Tuesday. "Enough with the bowing," he added.

Officials in Washington and US diplomats in Rome sought to clarify ICE agents' role at the Games.

ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the agency, will serve "a security role" at the Olympics, a spokesperson from the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed to CNN Tuesday. "They don't do immigration enforcement (operations) in a foreign country obviously," the spokesperson added.

After meeting with Italy's interior minister Tuesday, the US ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta, said HSI's role will be "strictly advisory and intelligence-based, with no patrolling or enforcement involvement."

Federal agencies have supported the security of US diplomats at previous Olympics, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a State Department spokesperson told CNN.

The State Department said its Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is leading the US security effort in Milan.

"At the Olympics, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations is supporting the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations," DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN in a statement. "All security operations remain under Italian authority," she added.

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee emphasized in a statement to CNN that it does not work with "US domestic law enforcement or immigration agencies in the planning or execution of the Games," including ICE.

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'A militia that kills'

Over the weekend, Italian media reports of ICE's deployment to the northern city of Milan drew criticism and prompted petitions, amid increased scrutiny over the jurisdiction and force leveraged by immigration officers in the US.

The Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, declared that authorities "don't need ICE" to implement security at the Olympics, telling local radio, "They're not welcome in Milan."

"This is a militia that kills," Sala told Italian radio station RTL 102.5 on Tuesday. "Could we ever say 'No' to Trump? This isn't about severing relations or creating a diplomatic incident, but could we say 'No?'"

"I believe they shouldn't come to Italy because they don't guarantee they're aligned with our democratic security management methods," added Sala.

Another Italian lawmaker warned ICE agents "must not set foot in Italy." "It is a violent, unprepared, and out-of-control militia," Carlo Calenda, a veteran politician, told RTL 102.5 on Tuesday.

In recent weeks, ICE federal law enforcement agents killed two US citizens in the city of Minneapolis – against the backdrop of intensified protests demanding a halt to sweeping immigration raids by the White House.

Several Americans living in Milan reacted to the move by US authorities with incredulity, expressing concern over their country's reputation on the world stage under US President Donald Trump's domestic and foreignpolicy agenda. They spoke to CNN under the condition of anonymity, for fear of retaliation.

"I'm so confused, why on earth would ICE agents come to Italy? They don't have jurisdiction here," one person said on Tuesday.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN's Kit Maher and Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byVincento Seyarto

in

January 31, 2026

Italians furious over deployment of ICE agents to bolster US security at Winter Olympics

Outrage is growing in Italy over the deployment ofImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agentsto assist US security o...

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Judge orders release of 5-year-old, father detained in Minnesota ICE raid

By Kalea Hall

A 5-year-old boy is detained by federal agents in Columbia Heights

DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Saturday ordered the release of Adrian Conejo Arias and his five-year-old son, Liam Conejo Ramos, whom ​immigration officers detained during a Minnesota raid.

The boy — seen in a now-viral photo ‌wearing a blue bunny hat outside his house as federal agents stood nearby — was one of four students ‌detained by immigration officials earlier this month in a Minneapolis suburb, according to the Columbia Heights Public School District.

"The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children," U.S. District Judge Fred Biery wrote in ⁠a ruling published on Saturday.

"Ultimately, ‌Petitioners may, because of the arcane United States immigration system, return to their home country, involuntarily or by self-deportation. But that result should occur ‍through a more orderly and humane policy than currently in place."

The Ecuadorean boy and his father, who entered the United States legally as asylum applicants, were sent to a family detention facility in Dilley, ​Texas, their attorney Marc Prokosch previously told Reuters.

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Prokosch and the Department of Homeland Security ‌did not immediately return requests for comment.

Judge Biery, appointed by then-President Bill Clinton, blasted the administration of President Donald Trump in his three-page order.

He likened the Trump administration's behavior to that of the British king decried in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, including sending "Swarms of Officers to harass our People," exciting "domestic Insurrection among us" and "quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops ⁠among us."

Biery cited the Constitution's requirement that an arrest ​warrant must be based on a judge finding probable ​cause of a crime. The use of "administrative warrants," issued by immigration officials, "is called the fox guarding the henhouse," he wrote.

"Observing human behavior confirms that for ‍some among us, the ⁠perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency," Biery wrote. "And the rule of law ⁠be damned."

Armed and masked officers detained two 17-year-olds and a 10-year-old in addition to Liam, school district Superintendent ‌Zena Stenvik said last week.

(Reporting by Kalea Hall; Additional reporting by William ‌Mallard; Editing by Sergio Non and Alistair Bell)

byVincento Seyarto

in

January 31, 2026

Judge orders release of 5-year-old, father detained in Minnesota ICE raid

By Kalea Hall A 5-year-old boy is detained by federal agents in Columbia Heights DETROIT, Jan 31 (Reuters) -...

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Why the partial government shutdown is expected to drag on longer than anticipated

Amid a partial government shutdown that went into effect Saturday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries now says Democrats will not join Republicans in expediting the passage of the Senate-passed funding package -- and the partial shutdown is expected to last longer than first anticipated.

Jeffries confirmed the Democrats' position in an interview Saturday on MSNOW.

The Senate voted Friday to separate out extended funding for the Department of Homeland Security after reaching a deal with the White House to put that off for two weeks to negotiate Democratic demands for restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including requiring agents to wear body cameras turned on and to wear no masks.

It was initially expected that the House Speaker would take up the measure on the House floor on Monday under suspension of the rules -- requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.

Johnson will now have to first pass the package through the House Rules Committee before it can be taken to the floor for a vote so Republicans can attempt to pass the package with a simple majority.

The committee announced Saturday that the markup on the Senate-passed funding package is set to occur on Monday at 4 p.m. -- the first of many steps before the package can receive a full vote on the House floor.

A GOP House leadership source told ABC News a final vote on the funding package to end the partial shutdown is expected to occur on Tuesday, though the timing could slide. There are several procedural steps before the House can vote on final passage, and it is unclear if Johnson has the necessary GOP support to advance the package given his slim majority.

Explaining his position, Jeffries said in the MSNOW interview: "We need a full and complete debate, and what I've made clear to House Republicans is that they cannot simply move forward with legislation taking a 'my way or the highway' approach in the absence of House Democrats convening, which we're going to do tomorrow, and having a discussion about the appropriate way forward."

Jeffries said the reason for this decision is because there has not been an agreement on the demands from Democrats for reforms at DHS.

"We need a clear path forward, and we haven't had that discussion with the White House or anyone within the administration, and the things that we've talked about needing to occur, and we understand that we're going to have to build this into law, and that's what's contemplated," he said.

"We need ICE and DHS agencies to conduct themselves like every other law enforcement agency in the country. And what we're saying is that if we're contemplating a two week freeze in order to get us to a place where we can see dramatic change, we want to understand that there's an ironclad path forward to get those things done," he later added.

Last-minute Senate vote

The latest uncertainty in the government funding saga comes after the Senate met a last-minute deadline Friday to approve a revised package of government funding bills.

The vote was 71-29, with only five Republicans voting against: Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson and Rick Scott.

The way for the Senate to vote was cleared earlier Friday when Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham lifted his hold after securing a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune for a vote on banning sanctuary cities in the coming weeks.

Graham earlier Friday had outlined his demands for lifting his hold: a promise of a vote at a later date on his bill to end so-called sanctuary cities that resist the administration's immigration policies, and a vote related to controversial Arctic Frost provisions, which allow members of Congress to sue the government if federal investigators gain access to their phone records without their knowledge. Those provisions were stripped out of the funding package initially passed by the House.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Graham said Senate Majority Leader John Thune supported his conditions.

"I will lift my hold and vote for the package," Graham said.

The agreement announced Thursday would see most of the federal government funded through September, while DHS would be funded for two additional weeks at current spending levels to allow lawmakers to negotiate on other provisions in the package.

Government funding negotiations hit snag after Democrats announce deal

The funding fight over DHS erupted in the aftermath of the death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, who was killed in a shooting involving federal law enforcement in Minneapolis over the weekend.

With Senate passage in the rear-view mirror, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer laid out the pillars of reform to the Homeland Security bill that Democrats will fight to enact over the next two weeks.

"The bottom line is very simple: the American people are crying out for change," Schumer said immediately following the Senate vote Friday evening. "This is not America, not America. And when you see those images, know that something is dramatically wrong and it must change. We are fighting to change it. Will our Republican colleagues join us now?"

With only two weeks to negotiate changes, Schumer stressed that Democrats will demand an end to roving patrols, enforce accountability and mandate masks off and body-cameras turned on.

"If our colleagues are not willing to enact real change, real strong change, they should not expect Democratic votes," Schumer said. "We have only a few days to deliver real progress for the American people, the eyes of the nation are watching."

Schumer said he intends to huddle with Thune to set the parameters of negotiations -- not necessarily President Trump.

"We're going to have a group of Democrats negotiate. We're going to have to negotiate with the Republicans to get this done," Schumer said. "But as we've said over and over again, they shouldn't expect our votes if they're not willing to go along with strong legislation."

"We need Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to pass this, so I'm going to talk to Thune," he said.

byVincento Seyarto

in

January 31, 2026

Why the partial government shutdown is expected to drag on longer than anticipated

Amid a partial government shutdown that went into effect Saturday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries now says Democ...

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From Elon Musk to the former Prince Andrew, a who’s who of powerful men are named in Epstein files

NEW YORK (AP) — From tech titans to Wall Street power brokers and foreign dignitaries, a who's who of powerful men make appearances in the hugetrove of documentsreleased Friday by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations ofJeffrey Epstein.

Many have denied having close ties to the late financier, or at least having anything to do with his alleged sexual abuse of girls and young women that led to his arrest on sex trafficking charges.

None have been charged with a crime connected to the investigation. Epsteinkilled himself in a Manhattan jail cellin 2019. Yet some of them maintained friendships with Epstein, or developed them anew, even after he became known as a predator of young girls and registered sex offender.

Here's a primer on some of the notable names in the Epstein files:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The man formerly known as Britain'sPrince Andrewhas long been dogged by questions about his relationship with Epstein, including allegations from the lateVirginia Roberts Giuffrethat she was trafficked by Epstein and instructed to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17.

The former prince has repeatedly deniedthat it happened, but his brother, King Charles III, stillstripped him of his royal titleslate last year, including the right to be called a prince and the Duke of York.

Mountbatten-Windsor's name appears at least several hundred times in Friday's document release, including in Epstein's private emails.

Among the correspondence is aninvitation for Epsteinto dine at Buckingham Palace, Epstein's offer to introduce Mountbatten-Windsor to a 26-year-old Russian woman, and photos that appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over an unidentified woman lying on the floor.

The billionaireTeslafounder turns up at least a few times in Friday's document release, notably in email exchanges in 2012 and 2013 in which he discussed visiting Epstein's infamous Caribbean island compound.

But it's not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk's companies, Tesla and X, didn't respond to emails seeking comment Friday or Saturday.

Muskhas maintained that he repeatedly turned down the disgraced financier's overtures. "Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED," he posted on X in 2025.

Richard Branson

The billionaire founder of Virgin Group Limited exchanged numerous emails with Epstein in the years after he pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor and agreed to register as a sex offender in Florida in 2008.

In a 2013 exchange, Branson invited Epstein to his own private Caribbean island.

"Any time you're in the area would love to see you," he wrote. "As long as you bring your harem!"

In another message that year, he suggested Epstein rehabilitate his image by convincingMicrosoftfounder Bill Gates to tell the public how Epstein had "been a brilliant adviser to him" and had "more than learnt your lesson and have done nothing that's against the law since."

A Branson spokesperson suggested the "harem" comment referred to adult members of Epstein's staff. The spokesperson also said Branson eventually severed ties with Epstein after learning more about the "serious allegations" against him.

Steven Tisch

The New York Giants co-owner is mentioned more than 400 times in the files released Friday. Correspondence between the two shows Epstein offered to connect Tisch to numerous women over the years.

In one 2013 email exchange with the subject line "Ukrainian girl," Epstein encouraged Tisch to contact a particular woman, whose physical beauty he praised in crude terms.

"Pro or civilian?" Tisch asked in reply.

Tisch, a scion of a powerful New York family that founded the Loews Corporation, has acknowledged knowing Epstein butdenied ever goingto his infamous Caribbean island.

"We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments," said Tisch, who also won anAcademy Awardin 1994 for producing "Forrest Gump." "As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with."

Casey Wasserman

The president of the committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angelesexchanged flirty emailswith Epstein confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, Friday's document release shows.

In a 2003 exchange, Wasserman wrote to Maxwell: "I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?"

In another, Maxwell asks whether it will be foggy enough during an upcoming visit "so that you can float naked down the beach and no one can see you unless they are close up?"

Wasserman released a statement Saturday saying he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein and that he regretted the correspondence with Maxwell, which he said came "long before her horrific crimes came to light."

Maxwell is currently serving a20-year prison sentencefor sex trafficking and abuse of minors.

The former Israeli prime minister and his wife turn up frequently in the documents released Friday, showing they stayed in regular contact with Epstein for years, including well after his 2008 guilty plea for sex crimes in Florida.

Among the correspondence are plans for a 2017 stay at Epstein's New York residence. Other missives discuss mundane logistics for other visits, meetings and phone calls with Epstein.

Barak has acknowledged regularly visiting Epstein on his trips to New York and flying on his private plane, but maintains henever observedany inappropriate behavior or parties.

Barak served as Israel's prime minister from 1999 to 2001 and later served as its defense minister.

Howard Lutnick

President Donald Trump's commerce secretary visited Epstein's private Caribbean island with his family on at least one occasion, records released Friday show.

That appears to contradict prior statements he's made claiming he cut ties with the disgraced financier, who he's called "gross," decades ago.

But emails show Lutnick and his wife accepted an invitation to Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands in December 2012 and planned to arrive by yacht with their children.

The former chairman of Newmark, a major commercial real estate firm, also had drinks on another occasion in 2011 with Epstein and corresponded with him about the construction of a building across the street from both of their homes.

The Commerce Department, in a statement, said Lutnick had "limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing."

Sergey Brin

The billionaire Google co-founder made plans to meet with Epstein and Maxwell at his townhouse in New York years before he was publicly accused of sexually abusing underage girls, emails show.

In one exchange in 2003, Maxwell invited him to join her at a screening of the Renee Zellweger film "Down with Love" in New York.

She followed up a few weeks later to invite him to a "happily casual and relaxed" dinner at Epstein's house. Brin offered to bring along Google's then-CEO Eric Schmidt.

Spokespersons for Google didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.

Steve Bannon

The one-time adviser to Trump exchanged hundreds of friendly texts with Epstein, some sent months before his 2019 arrest and jailhouse suicide.

The two discussed politics, travel and a documentary Bannon was said to be planning that would help salvage Epstein's reputation.

One 2018 exchange, for example, focused on Trump's threats at the time to oust Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. In a 2019 message, Bannon asked Epstein if he could supply his plane to pick him up in Rome.

Bannon hasn't responded to emails seeking comment.

Miroslav Lajcak

A national security adviser to the Slovakian prime minister, Lajcak resigned Saturday after his past communications with Epstein appeared in Friday's document release.

Opposition parties and a nationalist partner in Fico's governing coalition had called for him to step down.

Lajcak, a former Slovak foreign minister and a onetime president of the U.N. General Assembly, has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but was photographed meeting with Epstein in the years between his initial release from jail and his subsequent indictment in 2019 on sex trafficking charges.

He said his correspondence with Epstein were part of his diplomatic duties.

Associated Press journalists from around the country contributed to this report.

byVincento Seyarto

in

January 31, 2026

From Elon Musk to the former Prince Andrew, a who’s who of powerful men are named in Epstein files

NEW YORK (AP) — From tech titans to Wall Street power brokers and foreign dignitaries, a who's who of powerful men ma...

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UK’s Starmer says ex-Prince Andrew should testify before Congress over Epstein ties

By Andrew MacAskill

TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that the former Prince Andrew should testify before a U.S. congressional committee, following new ​revelations about Andrew's links to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

New files related ‌to Epstein published by the U.S. justice department on Friday included emails that showed King Charles's brother maintaining regular contact ‌with Epstein for more than two years after he was found guilty of child sex crimes.

The files also include pictures appearing to show Andrew crouching over and touching the waist of an unidentified woman lying on the floor. Her face was blacked out in the redacted images.

The king stripped his brother ⁠of his title of prince and ‌evicted him from his mansion in the grounds of Windsor Castle in November, in the wake of previous revelations about his links with Epstein.

ANDREW HAD ‍DENIED MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIP AFTER EPSTEIN'S CONVICTION

The former prince, 65, now uses the family name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and had previously denied maintaining ties with the financier after Epstein's 2008 conviction, ​apart from a 2010 visit to New York to end their relationship.

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He did not reply ‌to a Reuters request for comment on the latest revelations. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Starmer, speaking to reporters on the plane to Japan after a four-day visit to China, said the former prince should appear before U.S. lawmakers to explain everything he knows about Epstein to help his victims.

"Anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked ⁠to do that," Starmer said. "You can't be victim centred ​if you're not prepared to do that."

In November, members of ​a U.S. congressional committee investigating the Epstein case intensified their calls for Andrew to answer questions.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in a Manhattan jail while ‍awaiting trial on sex trafficking ⁠charges. He was jailed in 2008 for soliciting paid sex from a minor.

The files show Andrew maintained regular contact with Epstein after his conviction, including discussing potential business deals and ⁠social meetings.

In several emails, Epstein and Andrew discuss women that the financier proposes to put in touch with the ‌prince. In one email, Epstein offered to bring three women to Buckingham Palace.

(Reporting by ‌Andrew MacAskillEditing by James Davey and Peter Graff)

byVincento Seyarto

in

January 31, 2026

UK’s Starmer says ex-Prince Andrew should testify before Congress over Epstein ties

By Andrew MacAskill TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that the fo...

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Zelenskiy says Ukraine getting ready for new peace talks next week

Jan 31 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine was waiting for more information from the United ​States about further peace talks and expected new meetings ‌to take place next week.

Zelenskiy's statement during his nightly video address appeared to ‌suggest that a meeting scheduled for Sunday in the United Arab Emirates between representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States would not take place. The three sides held a round of talks ⁠a week ago.

"We are ‌in constant communication with the American side and are expecting specific details from them regarding further meetings," ‍Zelenskiy said.

"Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats. It is important that there be results and that the meetings take place. We ​are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for ‌them."

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff led a team of representatives in talks in Florida on Saturday with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and described the discussions as "productive and constructive."

The U.S. has been spearheading diplomatic efforts to end the war, launched nearly four years ago by ⁠the Kremlin's invasion of its smaller ​neighbour.

Witkoff has singled out the question ​of territory as the key to making progress in the negotiations, with Kyiv rejecting Moscow's demand that it ‍cede all of ⁠the Donbas region, including areas its army has not captured.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said this week that land ⁠was not the sole key issue under discussion but did not identify ‌other unresolved issues.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; editing ‌by Diane Craft, Rod Nickel)

byVincento Seyarto

in

January 31, 2026

Zelenskiy says Ukraine getting ready for new peace talks next week

Jan 31 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine was waiting for more information from the ...

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