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Mullin claims Obama oversaw Epstein sweetheart deal struck during Bush administration
- Senator Markwayne Mullin claimed in a 2023 CNN interview that the Obama administration struck a sweetheart plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein in 2009.
- Host Jake Tapper clarified that Epstein’s plea agreement was finalized in 2008, during the tenure of U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta under President George W. Bush’s administration, contradicting claims that it occurred under the Obama administration.
- Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges and served 13 months with work release, while the case was sealed in 2009 and publicly unsealed later that year revealing the lenient terms.
- During the exchange, Mullin said, “What we’re simply wanting to do here is give him cover,” referring to blocking release of Epstein files, while Tapper pointed out a judge blocked the grand jury transcript release.
- The dispute highlights continuing controversy over Epstein’s prosecution and the withholding of related files, with the actual plea deal predating the Obama administration by several months.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Mullin claims Obama oversaw Epstein sweetheart deal struck during Bush administration
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) claimed former President Barack Obama oversaw disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea deal when Epstein first came into legal trouble under former President George W. Bush.
'NNot true': Republican continues to push false claim despite being fact-checked on live TV
During a heated exchange on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R‑OK) pushed a false claim that the Obama administration was responsible for a “sweetheart” plea deal with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2009.Mullin insisted, “there was a plea deal that was struck in 2009, … way before [President Donald] Trump was even considering to be in office … 2009, there was a sweetheart plea deal that was made underneath the Obam…
Tapper, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin spar on the effort to release the full Epstein files
Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin discusses the Epstein controversy with Jake Tapper and what it will take for the Trump administration to move on from the crisis.
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