U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed he visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island in 2012, while a former Palm Beach police chief claims Donald Trump knew about Epstein's crimes as early as 2006, according to recently released records. These revelations come amidst growing scrutiny of individuals connected to the late convicted sex offender, and as the National Cancer Institute faces criticism for funding a study on the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a potential cancer cure.
Lutnick's confirmation, made during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, revealed that he and his family, along with another couple and their children, spent about an hour on Epstein's island for lunch. This contradicts previous statements where Lutnick had indicated he had cut ties with Epstein years earlier. The visit occurred in 2012, as reported by Time.
Simultaneously, a record of an October 2019 FBI interview with former Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter, included in the latest release of Epstein files, indicates that Trump was aware of Epstein's activities. Reiter told the FBI that Trump informed him in July 2006, when Epstein was first arrested on a state charge for soliciting prostitution, that Epstein's crimes were well-known among socialites in Florida and New York, according to Time.
Adding to the news cycle, the National Cancer Institute is using federal funds to study ivermectin as a potential cancer treatment, a move that has drawn criticism. Ars Technica reported that the drug, which fringe medical groups falsely claimed could treat COVID-19, has no scientific evidence to support its use as a cancer cure. Large clinical trials have resoundingly concluded that ivermectin is not effective against COVID-19.
In other news, Iran experienced a near-total internet blackout on January 8th, impacting the country's higher education system. The restrictions echo a five-day internet blackout in 2019, according to Nature News.
Additionally, Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting a government website, Realfood.gov, which provides resources on new dietary guidelines. The new guidelines advise a higher protein intake than previously recommended, according to Wired.
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