Clinton Defends Epstein Ties; Trump Admin Bans Anthropic Contracts

Former President Bill Clinton testified today before a Republican-led congressional committee, addressing his historical ties to Jeffrey Epstein. This appearance follows the release of new Department of Justice materials, including photos and emails that clarify the extent of Clinton’s relationship with the late financier. Documents highlight how Ghislaine Maxwell acted as a social matchmaker between Clinton’s team and Epstein, facilitating over two dozen flights on Epstein’s private jet for foundation work. While Clinton maintains he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, the committee is intensifying its scrutiny of powerful figures linked to the case. Beyond the hearing, the Trump administration has announced the removal of AI company Anthropic from the Pentagon’s supply chain and all government contracts. This move marks a significant shift in the administration's approach to domestic tech partnerships. Additionally, federal authorities face criticism for a social media campaign on the White House X account. The campaign, intended to highlight criminal records of immigrants, reportedly used incorrect photos and exaggerated the felony record of a man named At Chandee. These events highlight a day focused on executive accountability and evolving federal enforcement strategies.

[00:00] Evelyn Hartwell: From Neural Newscast, I'm Evelyn Hartwell.
[00:03] Frederick Moore: And I am Frederick Moore.
[00:05] Evelyn Hartwell: Today is February 27, 2026.
[00:09] Evelyn Hartwell: Former President Bill Clinton is appearing before a congressional committee to discuss his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
[00:17] Evelyn Hartwell: We are also examining the Trump administration's decision to ban the artificial intelligence firm Anthropic from all federal contracts.
[00:27] Announcer: Additionally, we look at errors in a White House social media campaign regarding immigrant deportations.
[00:35] Announcer: This morning's developments highlight a period of intense scrutiny for both past and current federal leadership.
[00:42] Evelyn Hartwell: We start on Capitol Hill, where Bill Clinton is testifying today about his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
[00:50] Evelyn Hartwell: This Republican-led inquiry follows the recent release of new Department of Justice documents and photographs.
[00:58] Announcer: Those files include images of Clinton with Ghislaine Maxwell and records of his travel on Epstein's private jet.
[01:07] Announcer: Maxwell described herself in recent depositions as the primary link between the two men.
[01:13] Evelyn Hartwell: Clinton maintains that his association with Epstein was strictly for philanthropic purposes.
[01:20] Evelyn Hartwell: He stated today, Frederick, that he had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing during their interactions.
[01:28] Announcer: Emails between Maxwell and Clinton's top aide, Doug Band, show a close working relationship.
[01:34] Announcer: Band reportedly referred to Maxwell as a social matchmaker while coordinating flights and foundation meetings.
[01:42] Evelyn Hartwell: Flight logs confirm that Clinton flew on Epstein's jet at least 24 times between 2002 and 2003.
[01:51] Evelyn Hartwell: These trips covered foundation projects in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
[01:57] Announcer: The former president told the committee he never visited Epstein's private island.
[02:01] Announcer: He insists he cut all ties with the financier years before Epstein's initial 2006 indictment.
[02:09] Evelyn Hartwell: Conclusively, while the files do not implicate Clinton in any criminal wrongdoing,
[02:15] Evelyn Hartwell: the testimony remains a high-profile moment.
[02:18] Evelyn Hartwell: Lawmakers are pressing for more details on the vetting processes for Foundation donors.
[02:25] Announcer: Next, we turn to a major shift in federal technology policy involving the Pentagon.
[02:31] Announcer: The Trump administration is cutting the AI company Anthropic from all government contracts.
[02:37] Evelyn Hartwell: This move removes the San Francisco-based firm from the Pentagon's official supply chain.
[02:43] Evelyn Hartwell: It marks a significant change in how the administration handles partnerships with major artificial intelligence developers.
[02:52] Frederick Moore: Anthropic has been a key player in the AI industry with its Claude models.
[02:56] Frederick Moore: The administration has not yet provided a detailed public reason for the sudden exclusion, Evelyn.
[03:02] Evelyn Hartwell: In other news, the federal government is facing backlash over its social media messaging.
[03:08] Evelyn Hartwell: The White House account on X recently posted about an immigrant named Atchandi.
[03:13] Frederick Moore: The post labeled Chandi as one of the worst criminals, but used a photo of a different person.
[03:19] Frederick Moore: It also claimed he had multiple felony convictions when he actually has only one.
[03:24] Evelyn Hartwell: Chandy is a former refugee from Laos who has lived in the United States since childhood.
[03:30] Evelyn Hartwell: His legal team noted that he has not missed a check-in with authorities in years.
[03:35] Frederick Moore: This incident has raised questions about the accuracy of the administration's public deportation narratives.
[03:42] Frederick Moore: Critics argue that misidentifying individuals undermines the credibility of federal law enforcement agencies.
[03:48] Evelyn Hartwell: I'm Evelyn Hartwell.
[03:50] Frederick Moore: And I'm Frederick Moore.
[03:51] Frederick Moore: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
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[04:16] Frederick Moore: Learn more at neuralnewscast.com.

Clinton Defends Epstein Ties; Trump Admin Bans Anthropic Contracts
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