Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed Tuesday that he visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012, a revelation that has prompted calls for his resignation from lawmakers. The visit, which included his wife, four children, and nannies, occurred despite Lutnick's previous claims of cutting ties with the convicted sex offender years earlier.
Lutnick's confirmation came during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. He stated, "My wife was with me, as were my four children and nannies. I had another couple. They were there as well with their children, and we had lunch on the island." He added that the family was on vacation and spent approximately an hour on the island before departing.
The Justice Department's recent release of records related to Epstein has brought renewed scrutiny to Lutnick's relationship with the late financier. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns and called for his resignation following the disclosure.
In other news, the National Cancer Institute is using federal funds to study whether ivermectin, a deworming drug, can cure cancer. This decision has drawn criticism, as large clinical trials have concluded that ivermectin is ineffective against COVID-19, and there is no scientific evidence to support its use in cancer treatment. According to Ars Technica, the study is being funded under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his anti-vaccine stance.
Meanwhile, Kennedy is promoting a government website, Realfood.gov, which provides resources on new dietary guidelines. The website encourages people to use Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok for dietary advice. The new guidelines suggest a higher protein intake than previously advised, recommending 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, according to Wired.
In New Jersey, former congressman Tom Malinowski conceded to Analilia Mejia in the Democratic special election U.S. House primary to fill Mikie Sherrill's vacated congressional seat. According to NPR News, Mejia is the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy.
Finally, Iran experienced a near-total internet blackout on January 8th, causing severe disruptions to the country's higher education system. Nature News reported that the restrictions echo a similar five-day internet blackout in 2019, raising concerns about digital isolation.
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