Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) declared that he would sign a bill into law that would release the secret grand jury material from the state's 2006 investigation into allegations of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual assaults of underage girls. DeSantis also challenged President Joe Biden to release the federal files relating to Epstein's alleged child sex crimes. The bill‚ HB 117‚ was unanimously passed in the Florida Senate on Wednesday – six days after it passed with unanimous support in the House. DeSantis proclaimed that he would sign the bill into law as soon as it hit the governor's desk. "All files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activity should be made public‚" DeSantis said on Wednesday night. "While the federal government continues to stonewall accountability‚ I’m glad the Legislature has taken action to release the grand jury material from the Florida state case. I will sign the bill into law."Once signed‚ HB 117 goes into effect on July 1.DeSantis also challenged Biden to release the federal files regarding the investigation into Epstein and the child sex crimes allegations. The Republican governor of Florida asked‚ "Why won’t Biden release the federal government’s Epstein files?" — (@) Florida Politics said of the bill‚ "It amends Florida Statutes‚ Section 905.27 by expanding a 'furthering of justice' exception to grand jury secrecy to include 'furthering a public interest.'""But it comes with several conditions that Epstein’s case uniquely meets‚ including that the subject of the grand jury inquiry must be dead‚ the inquiry must have involved crimes or sexual activity with a minor‚ and that the testimony must have been previously disclosed under a court order‚" the outlet reported. A court could limit what is shared with the public and could redact documents and testimony. The bill's sponsor‚ Highland Beach Republican Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman‚ still has questions regarding the Epstein case.“Last year‚ two (of Epstein’s) victims committed suicide. Many other victims are suffering in my county and around the world‚” Gossett-Seidman said last week. “Epstein could have been stopped right here in Florida. Instead‚ he was released to dehumanize girls for another 13 years. We need to know why.”In 2005‚ police in Palm Beach began investigating Epstein over allegations of sexual assaults of minors after the parent of a 14-year-old reported child sex abuse accusations to law enforcement. In a June 2016 deposition‚ a Palm Beach Police detective said he had spoken to approximately 30 females who had told him about "performing massage and work at Epstein's home." The detective noted that a majority of the females that he spoke to were under the age of 18. Detective Joseph Recarey said‚ "Epstein would either attempt to fondle the girls or touch the girls inappropriately‚ and at which point he would masturbate. And when he was done‚ he would get up and go wash off while the girls would get dressed and go back downstairs and get paid."Some of the minors said they were paid to recruit their friends to massage Epstein. Epstein's lawyers secured a "sweetheart deal" for the alleged financier in 2008. He pleaded guilty to procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.Epstein served just 13 months in a private prison wing and had extensive work release.The Associated Press reported‚ "During that time‚ he was taken to his office‚ where he claimed to be running his financial consulting business and his foundation. By the time of his release‚ he was spending six days a week and 18 hours a day at his office. He was required to wear an ankle monitor and hire two deputies to oversee his whereabouts from the lobby‚ but they were not in his office with him."In July 2019‚ Epstein was arrested at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey‚ and he was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex.The grand jury indictment alleged that "dozens" of underage girls were transported to Epstein's homes for the purpose of engaging in sexual encounters.In August 2019‚ Epstein committed suicide by hanging in his Manhattan federal jail cell while he awaited trial‚ according to the New York City’s chief medical examiner.Earlier this month‚ Epstein's brother shared photographs of the convicted pedophile's body. Mark Epstein is questioning the narrative that his brother killed himself in prison.Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An artist living in the Netherlands has claimed that she plans on marrying a hologram backed by artificial intelligence that fulfills all her emotional needs.A Spanish-Dutch artist named Alicia Framis will allegedly marry an AI-driven hologram that she claimed is based on profile information from her previous romantic partners.Framis said in a press release that she and her mate "AILex" will have a "unique ritual for the union between a human and an avatar." Guests will be served "molecular food that can be enjoyed by both humans and humanoid entities‚" Business Insider reported.However‚ Framis is a performance artist who has also claimed to have previously had a relationship with a mannequin named Pierre.Videos released by Framis that allegedly show interactions with a holographic avatar do not appear convincing‚ however‚ and simply do not appear similar to any type of artificial intelligence or holographic capability that is publicly available. Images posted to the artist's website also appear similar to edited photos.The alleged wedding represents a "new generation of love‚" according to Ramis' press announcement‚ which was released by a publicity team."Alicia Framis is the first woman to marry a hologram‚ an intelligent hologram that fulfills all her emotional needs‚" her website stated. "While we know that robots and humans will soon become sexual partners‚ Framis believes that the next important step is emotionally connecting humans with artificial intelligence. Holograms are closer to her emotions than robots."Framis has described herself as "one of the most important artists in Europe" for her social involvement in "women and minority issues."She has further labeled herself as an artist who comments on "outdated or uneven societal power structures and misgivings‚" through the use of performance art‚ design‚ architecture‚ and garments. Many of her statements are rewordings of progressive phrasing‚ such as a claim that her art is a way of "reclaiming social spaces for the underprivileged‚ overseen‚ undervalued."Other descriptions of her inspirations and artistic vision are largely unintelligible:In Barcelona‚ Spain I encountered loneliness most likely to multiply in specific neighbourhoods where people from too diverse cultural backgrounds in the lower socio-economic rungs of society cohabitate as regulated by income bracket‚ losing the direct social links for support that once existed in a more culturally homogenous make-up of communities ... These systems‚ that with the clearest intentions design social care through intricately thought-out systematic logistics‚ oftentimes end up stripping the inherently needed solidarity from the process in streamlining it as a workable product to be delivered and administratively organized.Framis noted in her press materials that AI companions could be beneficial to lonely people and explained that her hologram would fulfill all her needs."It's interesting how we can get a mortgage to buy a new car‚ and now we can have a mortgage to buy a new companion‚" she prophesied.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The FBI is reportedly investigating misconduct and corruption allegations involving Democrat Tiffany Henyard‚ a small-town Illinois politician. Henyard serves as mayor of Dolton‚ Illinois‚ a small village south of Chicago‚ and the supervisor of Thornton Township. She made headlines earlier this month when she lashed out at Dolton trustees for questioning her lavish spending habits. Questioning her spending‚ Henyard asserted‚ is akin to "attacking a black woman in power." Despite the village being millions of dollars in debt‚ Henyard has allegedly used taxpayer funds for extravagant trips‚ fine dining‚ first-class travel‚ self-promotion‚ her personal charity‚ and an expensive police detail‚ according to WGN-TV. All the while‚ Henyard rakes in a salary of nearly $300‚000. Now‚ the FBI is looking into allegations of misconduct‚ including abuse of power and corruption. Lawrence Gardner‚ the owner of a U-Haul rental and trucking business in Dolton‚ told WFLD-TV that he met with the FBI after city officials allegedly harassed him and shut down his business in retaliation for not donating to an event that Henyard sponsored. "I talked to a couple of agents and I explained to them what's going on‚" he told the news outlet. "I gave them all my paperwork to show them what was happening in court and what was happening in Dolton. And they told me they were investigating and would be in touch with me." Dewayne Wood‚ a local restaurant owner‚ told a similar story. Although he has not yet spoken with FBI agents‚ Wood said Dolton city officials are not renewing the business license for his restaurant because he has provided catering services to Dolton trustees who oppose Henyard. "I've heard rumors that say‚ hey‚ I'm on the wrong team‚" Wood told WFLD. "I think I've been targeted because of my association‚ affiliation with a certain group of people. ... The trustees. I've cooked for the trustees." In total‚ WFLD located six people with whom the FBI has already spoken. WFLD reported: Agents are asking questions about Henyard's alleged use of taxpayer dollars and resources‚ including massive spending on out-of-town trips. They’ve also inquired about hundreds of thousands of dollars in police overtime for Henyard’s personal security detail‚ her alleged use of public employees and tax dollars for personal benefit‚ and the holding up of licenses to certain businesses. For her part‚ Henyard has denied allegations of wrongdoing. In a statement‚ a public relations firm speaking on her behalf denied knowledge of the FBI's investigation."Mayor Tiffany Henyard and the Village of Dolton have not received any subpoenas and have not been contacted by the FBI or any other law enforcement agency‚" the statement said.The FBI‚ on the other hand‚ is not speaking about the investigation‚ consistent with agency policy.Meanwhile‚ Illinois Attorney General's Office has ordered Heynard's charity — the Tiffany Henyard Cares Foundation‚ which supposedly helps cancer patients — to stop soliciting donations. The foundation is accused of not filing financial disclosure forms.After WFLD broke news of the FBI's investigation‚ two Dolton bars were raided by city police. The owners of those establishments believe they are being targeted for political retaliation. FBI probing Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard's misconduct allegations www.youtube.com Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

When you take an honest look at America right now – heightened crime‚ open borders‚ mass censorship‚ corrupt media‚ declining faith in our election system – you might say we’re living in chaos. But you’d be wrong. “What's happening today isn't chaos because the definition of chaos is complete disorder and confusion‚” says Glenn Beck. “I think this is very well thought out.” “The current destruction of America that we are experiencing today is by design” – specifically by elites who are “very smart‚” “very evil‚” and have a “playbook to bring Lady Liberty down to her knees‚” Glenn says. This all started during President George W. Bush’s term‚ when he decided to “violate the free market to save the free market.” “Then Obama took it up the next level; Trump then delayed it – slowed it down [and] actually put us in reverse‚” and now the current administration and other powerful elites are “finishing the fundamental transformation of America‚” he explains. The raid of Mar-a-Lago‚ Trump’s most recent $354 million fraud verdict‚ the seven federal investigations of Elon Musk‚ and even YouTube’s demonetization of Glenn are just a few examples of the regime’s plan to “purge anyone that they can use policy to stop.” And yet‚ just last week‚ “Biden's own Justice Department declared that they won't be pursuing charges against the president because he was too mentally incompetent to stand trial‚” says Glenn‚ adding that “too brain-dead to answer questions” means he’s “too brain-dead to run the country.” But most agree at this point that Biden isn’t actually running the country but is serving as a puppet (and not a very good one) for those who are calling the shots. Which raises the question: Who is steering the ship? To find out‚ watch the video below. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Kentucky Republicans are poised to pass legislation that would serve to better protect religious liberty against the kinds of attacks both predicted in 2015 and highlighted this week by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. The prospect that the GOP supermajorities in the state House and Senate will successfully pass House Bill 47 has LGBT activist groups and other radical outfits raging. After all‚ it might serve to wrest the government away from them as another mechanism of ideological control and legally empower of those who resist their agenda. The bill HB 47‚ for which state Rep. Steve Rawlings (R) is the primary sponsor‚ successfully passed the state House Judiciary Committee on a 14-6 vote Wednesday. Rawlings indicated that the intent of the proposed legislation is to give Kentuckians a "fair day in court" should they find their religious freedoms being infringed by governmental actions or forces‚ reported WPSD-TV. "Ultimately‚ this bill seeks to ensure that religious rights are adequately protected‚" said Rawlings. "HB 47 ensures that Kentucky courts will use the most accommodating language to ensure that religious Kentuckians have a fair day in court." HB 47 would amend the state's current religious freedom law‚ in effect since 2013‚ elaborating on the definition of "government" and what "substantially burden" would mean in the context of the statement that the "government shall not substantially burden a person's freedom of religion." Under the proposed legislation‚ a substantial burden would be taken to mean "any action that directly or indirectly constrains‚ inhibits‚ curtails‚ or denies the exercise of religion by any person or compels any action contrary to a person's exercise of religion‚ including but not limited to: 1) Withholding benefits; 2) Assessing criminal‚ civil‚ or administrative penalties; or 3) Excluding from governmental programs or access to governmental facilities." Extra to making clear precisely what qualifies as a burden‚ the bill affords Kentuckians "whose religious exercise has been substantially burdened" the ability to take legal action and seek injunctive relief‚ declaratory relief‚ compensatory damages‚ costs‚ and attorney's fees. David Walls‚ executive director of the Family Foundation‚ stressed that "this important bill ... will give stronger protection to our first freedom‚" reported Kentucky Today. "HB 47 provides much-needed updates to Kentucky's Religious Freedom Restoration Act to ensure that every Kentuckian is free to simply live out their faith without government interference‚" added Walls. Rainbow outrage The ACLU of Kentucky has railed against the legislation‚ complaining that it would force the government to meet a high legal standard when clamping down on religious freedoms. "This biil [sic] is so broad that‚ if it passes‚ it could allow people to challenge virtually ANY law if they believe it impacts their religious beliefs or practice and by forcing the government to meet the strictest legal standard of review when defending those laws‚" wrote the ACLU of Kentucky. "House Bill 47 would also make it harder for the government to enforce laws that protect people from discrimination." The radical group characterized the legislation as an "anti-fairness/'jackpot justice' bill" and suggested elsewhere that it is an "anti-LGBTQ+" bill. The leftist group Vocal Kentucky claimed the bill is "a direct attack on LGBTQ Fairness Ordinances‚ which have protected Kentuckians at the local level for 25 years‚" suggesting further that it will serve to pad "the pockets of anti-LGBTQ hate groups like Alliance Defending Freedom." WPSD noted that Chris Hartman‚ executive director of the Fairness Campaign‚ another LGBT activist outfit‚ has similarly painted the effort to protect religious freedom as an assault on non-straight people. "There are 24 communities all across our commonwealth that have stood up to protect LGBTQ people‚ and you're putting every one of them at risk if you pass House Bill 47‚" Hartman told the House Judiciary Committee. Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said amidst the so-called Fairness Campaign rally this week‚ "Thirteen anti-LGBTQ+ bills already. I'll get the veto pen ready again this year." There's a good chance Republicans may once again be able to override Beshear's vetoes. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Department of Labor issued a nationwide temporary restraining order and injunction against a Tennessee firm‚ accusing the company of hiring minors to work overnight shifts at slaughtering and meat packing plants‚ according to recent court filings.On Wednesday‚ the DOL claimed that Fayette Janitorial Service LLC‚ a commercial cleaning service provider‚ "illegally" hired "children to clean and sanitize spaces and equipment during overnight shifts to fulfill sanitation contracts at a Perdue Farms plant in Accomac‚ Virginia‚ and at Seaboard Triumph Foods LLC in Sioux City."The agency noted that the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits minors from "working in dangerous occupations‚ including most jobs in meat and poultry slaughtering‚ processing‚ rendering and packing establishments."According to the department's court filings‚ the firm contracted 15 children as young as 13 years old in Virginia. It allegedly hired at least nine minors in Iowa to work overnight sanitation shifts.An investigation conducted by the DOL's Wage and Hour Division found that the company's contracted minor employees at the Iowa plant were hired to "clean power-driven machines‚ including meat and bone cutting saws‚ headsplitters‚ jawpullers‚ and skinners."Children employed at the Virginia facility were also tasked with cleaning power-driven meat processing machines‚ court filings claimed. The department reported that a 14-year-old child at the facility "suffered severe injuries while employed by Fayette" in 2022. According to the filings‚ the child "reached into a machine to remove a piece of debris‚" and the machinery tore the child's forearm. The minor suffered "significant blood loss and severe lacerations.""Someone at the Perdue Facility's sanitation office called 911 to report Minor Child J's injury. The dispatcher asked how old Minor Child J was. The caller responded 'um‚' and the line went dead... When the call reconnected thirty seconds later‚ the dispatcher again asked the age of the injured employee and was told Minor Child J was 19 years old‚" the court filings read.It added that the child was hospitalized for 12 days‚ missed a month of school‚ and required three surgeries‚ "including substantial skin grafts from his thighs to his arms‚ and six months of physical therapy before he could move his arm."Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda accused the company of committing an "egregious violation" of labor laws.A spokesperson for Fayette Janitorial LLC told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the company has "a zero-tolerance policy for minor labor in the workforce." The spokesperson stated that the firm has "been fully cooperating and complying with an ongoing investigation by the Department of Labor in relation to events that occurred in prior years.""We have continued to work diligently to ensure that something like this cannot occur. Fayette has made significant procedural improvements and enhancements over the past two years to bolster our hiring protocols‚ including a biometric technology to assist in employee processes‚ the hiring of a new CEO‚ and adding an additional third-party legal representation to aid in the vetting of employees. Fayette Janitorial is committed to always providing a lawful‚ ethical employment‚ as well as a safe and secure work environment – adhering to any and all guidelines set in place‚" the spokesperson told DCNF.Blaze News previously reported that the DOL had opened an investigation into Tyson Foods and Perdue Farms over allegations that the companies illegally contracted migrant children to work in hazardous positions at their slaughtering and meat packing facilities. In September‚ the New York Times published an exposé regarding the 14-year-old migrant child whose arm was mutilated while working at the Virginia facility. The child reportedly provided false documents that claimed he was in his 20s‚ the outlet reported. According to the Times‚ the Perdue plant was "full of migrant kids working in violation of child labor laws." "We are appalled by these recent allegations as they are not representative of who we are as a company and what we stand for‚" Perdue said in a September statement.At the time‚ both Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods stated that the DOL had not notified them about any pending investigations. Tyson Foods previously declined a request for comment from NPR.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A few Democrats have joined more than a dozen of their Republican colleagues in the Maryland House of Delegates to propose a measure that would criminalize performing almost any form of trans-related medical intervention on a minor without parental consent.On Wednesday‚ the Maryland House began considering HB 722‚ which would prohibit medical professionals from "attempting to alter the appearance of" a minor’s gender or sex or to "affirm the minor’s perception" of his or her gender without parent permission. Under the bill‚ all of the following would be banned for gender-confused children without the consent of a parent or guardian: puberty blockers; cross-sex hormones; and any surgical procedures that "sterilize‚" artificially attempt to construct cross-sex genitalia‚ or remove "any healthy or nondiseased body part or tissue."The bill does allow a handful of exceptions‚ including for minors with a "medically verifiable disorder of sex development‚" those who have already been mutilated by previous gender-related medical interventions‚ and those who have sustained a catastrophic injury or illness that requires emergency surgery to prevent death or "major bodily" impairment. Of note‚ Maryland is one of just a handful of states that allows kids 12 and up to make some medical-related decisions without parental consent.Republican Delegate Lauren Arikan of Harford County‚ who proposed the bill‚ claims that it will "ensure the protection of minors from life-altering‚ permanent medical procedures that have not been proven as necessary or helpful in the treatment of gender dysphoria."At least 15 of her Republican colleagues have signed on as co-sponsors‚ as have three Democrats: Sheree Sample-Hughes‚ Gary Simmons‚ and Kym Taylor. Democrat support for the measure‚ no matter how small‚ is important in a state as deeply blue as Maryland. The state not only has a Democratic governor‚ lieutenant governor‚ and attorney general‚ but Democrats also have a sizeable majority in both legislative chambers. They outnumber Republicans 102 to 39 in the House of Delegates and 34 to 13 in the Senate.The Daily Signal suggested that the increasingly bipartisan nature of measures that ban or limit trans-related medical interventions‚ especially for minors‚ may be a sign that trans ideology is falling out of political favor. "The overwhelming public backlash against the push for minors’ access to gender treatments may have contributed to caution from Democrats in both red and blue states‚" the outlet stated.Still‚ the measure has a long way to go before it could become law in Maryland. The Health and Government Operations Committee was scheduled to consider the measure shortly after it was introduced in the House. The outcome of that committee meeting is unclear.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos are children entitled to human rights under state law‚ which has many implications for in vitro fertilization. The case emerged from an incident in 2020 in which embryos from three couples were destroyed when an unauthorized person gained access to the embryos stored by the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile‚ Alabama. The couples filed a lawsuit in a lower court‚ which found that Alabama’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act didn’t apply to them. The couples then appealed to the State Supreme Court‚ which then ruled 8:1 that unborn children are children‚ without exception. Allie Beth Stuckey believes the ruling makes perfect sense. “There hasn’t been a whole lot of consideration of how the life is created‚ if it’s moral‚ if it’s ethical to use in vitro fertilization‚” Stuckey says‚ noting that putting embryos on ice as people who believe that life begins at conception is a little odd. Frozen embryos are often left in a freezer‚ sometimes indefinitely‚ and they are also often discarded due to changed minds or divorce. Stuckey notes that there’s almost a eugenics process that goes into IVF. “The scientists‚ the doctors‚ can test these embryos to see if they have any kind of genetic disorder or some kind of special need‚” she says‚ adding‚ “Then parents can make the decision based on those findings‚ which embryos they want to kill‚ discard.” “My basic take is that’s no way to treat a child‚” Stuckey continues. Celebrities like Paris Hilton have claimed to have around twenty embryos on ice‚ which will not all be implanted. “So‚ as you can probably imagine‚ I support the reasoning in this Alabama Supreme Court ruling that said these un-implanted embryos qualify as human children‚ and so‚ they have rights like human children‚” Stuckey explains. To learn more‚ watch the episode below. Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture‚ news‚ and theology from a Christian‚ conservative perspective‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

James Biden testified that although his brother provided short-term loans‚ he was not involved in and did not benefit from his family’s business dealings.

Corey DeAngelis Posts Leaked Emails of TX School Officials Telling Teachers to Vote AGAINST School Choice