Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that the Justice Department’s decision Saturday to remove more than a dozen photographs that were released as part of the files on Jeffrey Epstein Alex Lomong.Courtesy Alex Lomong A vehicle drives past a flooded neighborhood Tuesday, in Snohomish, Wash.Brandon Bell / Getty Images and came at the request of victim advocacy groups. had “nothing to do with President Trump” Blanche said the removed photographs included unredacted pictures of women and “will go back up” after Justice Department officials investigate whether they need to make further redactions. One of the files included a photo of a tabletop covered by framed photos of Epstein with famous people. An open drawer on the tabletop included printed photos of Trump with women in bathing suits. “We don’t have perfect information,” Blanche told moderator Kristen Welker. “When we hear from victims’ rights groups about this type of photograph, we pull it down and investigate. We’re still investigating that photo. The photo will go back up, and the only question is whether there will be redactions on the photo.” Blanche also answered questions about the criticism he and other officials face from Democrats for not releasing the complete files by Friday’s deadline in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. “The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that to protect victims,” Blanche said. But that reasoning didn’t sit well with lawmakers. Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said they are committed to holding Justice Department officials accountable for their failure to release all eligible files, saying they’re speaking with members of Congress about holding Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt . “The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi,” Massie said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” when he was asked how Congress can force the release of the rest of the files. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said calls to impeach Justice Department officials for their handling of the release are “premature” after Khanna floated the possibility Friday. Kaine pointed to other mechanisms Congress has to prompt the Trump administration to release certain information. “We have tools in appropriations bills and other tools to force compliance if somebody is dragging their feet, and I’d rather focus on those tools than get into discussions about contempt and impeachment,” Kaine said. U.S. Coast Guard pursues another vessel after intercepting a ship off Venezuela The U.S. Coast Guard was in “active pursuit” of a sanctioned vessel in international waters off Venezuela on Sunday, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter told NBC News. One of the officials said the “dark fleet vessel” is “part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.” The vessel, known as Bella 1, was placed on the U.S. sanctions list in June 2024, according...

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