Immigration Battles and More Epstein Files – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - December 14, 2025

Immigration Battles and More Epstein Files – “The Sunday Political Brunch” - December 14, 2025

 

The courts and campaign stumps have been full of immigration issues this past week. And three more federal judges ordered the release of the so-called Epstein files, but when will we really get to see them? Let’s “brunch” on that and more this week.

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“Detained Immigrant Ordered Released” – A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the release of detained immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He had been in custody on suspicion of being a gang member and spouse abuser, though no charges were ever filed. Nonetheless, he had been deported to a prison in El Salvador before a judge ordered that he be brought back against the wishes of the White House. In ordering Garcia’s release, Judge Paula Xinis said, “Since Abrego Garcia’s return from wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority.” She added, “For this reason, the Court will grant Abrego Garcia’s petition for immediate release from ICE custody.” The White House plans to appeal, with Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin saying, “This order lacks any valid legal basis, and we will continue to fight this tooth and nail in the courts.”

 

“Los Angeles National Guard” – A federal judge has ruled that President Trump must stop the deployment and control of the National Guard in Los Angeles. The ruling could impact the deployment of the National Guard in other states as well. California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) said in a statement, “The President is not king. And he cannot federalize the National Guard whenever, wherever, and for however long he wants, without justification.” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “President Trump exercised his lawful authority to deploy National Guard troops to support federal officers and assets following violent riots that local leaders like ‘Newscum’ refused to stop.” She used the nickname Trump uses when referring to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) California. The Trump administration says it will appeal the ruling.

 

“Pritzker ICE Law” – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed an unusual and controversial law banning immigration officers from enforcement actions at courthouses, schools, hospitals, day care centers, and college campuses. “Dropping your kid off at day care, going to the doctor, or attending your classes should not be a life-altering task,” Pritzker said at a bill-signing ceremony. This comes months after President Trump sent federal law enforcement and National Guard troops to Chicago, which had long been declared a “sanctuary city.”  It will be fascinating to see whether the White House will challenge the law's constitutionality in state or federal court.

 

“New Miami Mayor” – Miami made history Tuesday night by electing its first-ever female mayor. She is also the first Democrat to hold that office in nearly 30 years. Eileen Higgins is a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner who may clash with President Trump on some key issues. She ran a pledge to stop local law enforcement from assisting with federal ICE raids. She also has doubts about locating the Trump presidential library on three acres of prime land donated by Miami-Dade Community College. The land is valued at $67 million. While Higgins said it would be “an honor” to host a presidential library, the money could be better spent elsewhere. She said, “We gave away very valuable land to a billionaire for free.” She added, “That doesn’t make any sense to me.” Higgins beat Trump’s endorsed Republican candidate Emilio Gonzalez by 19 points.

 

“New Epstein Pics” – Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released 19 new photos showing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein posing with a host of famous people. The pics include President Trump, former President Bill Clinton, the former Prince Andrew, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, former Harvard President Larry Summers, Trump loyalist Steve Bannon, Virgin Airways founder Richard Branson, actor Woody Allen, and others. The photos don’t depict anything illegal or improper. They are photos with friends. But it sure makes you scratch your head as to how Epstein became so influential among the rich, powerful, and famous.

 

“No Health Care Deal” – The U.S. Senate has failed to come up with a deal to continue or replace federal Obamacare subsidies. Democrats wanted to extend the tax subsidies for the next three years, beginning on January 1. Republicans wanted to let people create health care savings accounts. Right now, 22 million receive the subsidies, and without them monthly premiums could more than double. That could cause some people to simply go without any health insurance. Look for this to be a big campaign issue in the 2026 midterm elections.

 

“Ghislaine Maxwell Grand Jury” – A federal judge in New York now says the secret federal grand jury transcripts in the case against Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, can be made public. This comes the week after a federal judge in Florida ordered the release of similar grand jury evidence against Epstein, even though he was never prosecuted federally in the Florida case. There is a word of caution about whether this case contains any bombshells. The federal judge in New York says there won’t be. Judge Paul Engelmayer said the materials “do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor.” He added, “They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein’s or Maxwell’s.” The Florida case may be more intriguing as it may shed light on what critics call a “sweetheart deal” where Epstein was prosecuted by the State of Florida, but not by the U.S. Attorney. Maxwell says Epstein’s grant of immunity in that case should have also applied to her.

 

“Epstein Files Round Three” – And then there was a third court ruling. A different federal judge in New York reversed his earlier ruling that blocked the release of secret grand jury testimony about Epstein’s federal case in New York. Investigators say Epstein committed suicide in his jail cell, while awaiting that federal trial. Judge Richard Berman says a new law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump allows him to unseal the files. But Judge Berman also advised caution, saying the 70 pages of grand jury materials to be released are hardly revelatory and “merely a hearsay snippet” of Epstein’s conduct. I am glad all three courts now agree, as does Congress. But so far, we are “getting more smoke than fire” by what has trickled out. It’s time to release it all, with the victims’ names redacted, of course.

 

“RFK Jr. Impeachment?” – Rep. Haley Stevens (D) Michigan has filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a video statement she posted on X, Stevens said, “RFK Jr. has got to go. Today, I introduced articles of impeachment to remove him from office. RFK Jr. has turned his back on science and public health and on the American people.” Most of this stems from Kennedy wanting to change child vaccination protocols. Of course, impeachment has little or no chance of going anywhere since Republicans control both the House and Senate. But does Stevens have an ulterior motive? Well, she is a candidate for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon issued a statement saying, "Secretary Kennedy remains focused on the work of improving Americans’ health and lowering costs, not on partisan political stunts."

 

“Crockett for Senate” – It seems like a “Hail Mary” pass to me, but Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) Texas, is giving up a safe House seat to make a bid for the U.S. Senate next year. “I’m coming for you,” she said of President Donald Trump, whom she tangles with regularly. Texas is a solid red state, but internal GOP strife may aid Crockett. Sen. John Cornyn (R) Texas, is running for re-election, but he has two well-known primary challengers. Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R) Texas, are also in the race. President Trump, who has feuded with Sen. Cornyn, is backing Paxton. An expensive, bruising GOP primary that leaves a weakened nominee is Crockett’s best chance. But I still say it’s a long shot. Paxton has nicknamed her “Crazy Crockett.”

 

“Off-Shore Wind Energy” – The federal courts have been a real battleground for the Trump White House, with a mix of wins and losses. One loss this week directly affects New England. A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that a Trump executive order banning all new wind energy projects is unlawful. Trump signed it on his first day back in office. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said, “Massachusetts has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore wind, and today, we successfully protected those important investments from the Trump administration’s unlawful order.” Wind farms, like the one near Block Island, Rhode Island, are some of the fastest-growing sources of renewable energy in the country. Rhode Island was among the 17 states that joined in on the legal case. The White House promises an appeal, saying there were “alleged legal deficiencies underlying the federal government’s leasing and permitting” of wind projects under President Joe Biden.