Day: February 28, 2026

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace asserted that Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors have “exonerated” President Trump, saying “He’s been exonerated over and over again,” as GOP members defended not subpoenaing Trump in the House probe. (aol.com) Reporters pressed Mace, who repeated survivors told her he was exonerated; others said survivors asked only that Trump be questioned. (aol.com) Fact-checkers warn released Epstein materials do not legally exonerate Trump and that calling him “exonerated” mischaracterizes the documents and testimony. (politifact.com) Trump denies wrongdoing and has not been charged in the Epstein matter. (aol.com) The claim remains disputed and criticized across media and watchdogs, and legal experts call for clarity.

Abdul Jalloh, 32, was charged with second-degree murder after 41-year-old Stephanie Minter was found stabbed to death Feb. 23 at a Richmond Highway bus stop in Fairfax County; detectives identified him on surveillance and arrested him Feb. 24 following an alleged theft. DHS and multiple outlets report Jalloh, an immigrant from Sierra Leone who entered the U.S. illegally in 2012 and has a reported final order of removal from 2020, had been arrested more than 30 times. DHS urged Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to cooperate with ICE as the investigation continues. Tips can be submitted anonymously to police, officials said. (fcpdnews.wordpress.com)

Speaking in Columbia, South Carolina, President Joe Biden tore into former President Donald Trump for failing to acknowledge Jeffrey Epstein’s victims who sat in the chamber during Trump’s State of the Union address. Biden said Trump “never offered them a word of support,” and also criticized omissions including the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and deaths tied to immigration enforcement. Biden contrasted his economic record with Trump’s, cited the speech’s nearly two‑hour length, and accused Trump of ignoring survivors and transparency around Epstein files. The remarks, delivered at an event marking Biden’s 2020 primary anniversary, were a sharp rebuke. (thedailybeast.com)

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against targets inside Iran, striking sites in Tehran and other cities reportedly including nuclear facilities. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retaliated by launching missiles and drones at U.S. military assets across Gulf states and at Israel, where air defenses intercepted many incoming projectiles. Explosions and damage were reported in Tehran and in several Gulf host nations; at least one civilian fatality and injuries were reported. Israel declared a state of emergency and world powers urged restraint as regional leaders warned the assault could trigger wider, destabilizing conflict. (theguardian.com)