Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images
(WASHINGTON) — The FBI is working with the Department of Justice to see if there is “anything more” from the Jeffery Epstein files that can be released to the public, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Patel told journalist Catherine Herridge there are “protective orders and orders to seal in place that legally prohibit the disclosure of information related to any investigation when there’s a court order of that fashion,” when asked about whether the DOJ would meet the Dec. 19 30-day deadline to disclose materials, mandated in the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Attorney General Pam Bondi told ABC’s chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas last week that there was new information that came to light in the files, but declined to say what that new information was. She said that the Justice Department “will continue to follow the law” regarding what is released.
Patel was also asked about the president’s recent call for the DOJ to investigate Jeffery Epstein’s relationship with Democrats, and whether that would limit their investigation to only Democrats.
“We’ll just follow the facts,” Patel responded. “It’s pretty simple for this FBI.”
Bondi ordered U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York to investigate Democrats’ relationship with Epstein after President Trump essentially told her to do so.
“Based on the new referral, we’ll take a look at that and see what evidence comes but there’s an important distinction, the information that the government possesses versus the information that the Epstein estate possesses,” Patel said. “Those are two separate boxes of information, and the Epstein estate has not been willing to share information with the U.S. government, and so even though we’ve requested them to do so.”
Regarding how many of the Epstein files would be redacted and to what degree, Patel said the FBI “always” commits to as few redactions as possible “while also upholding always victim’s rights.
(LOS ANGELES) — Los Angeles police are searching for two gunmen after a 22-year-old woman — reportedly a Latin singer — was killed in an ambush-style shooting.
Around 1:25 a.m. Saturday, two men approached a parked car in the Northridge neighborhood and fired multiple rounds at several people sitting inside, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Maria De La Rosa was taken to a hospital where she died from gunshot wounds, police said.
The 22-year-old was, according to multiple reports, a Latin singer growing in popularity with about 40,000 Instagram followers.
Two others in the car with her were injured, according to police.
A motive isn’t known and no arrests have been made, police said.
Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov smiles during the Council for Interethnic Relations, on November 5, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
(LONDON) — Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to elaborate on Moscow’s position in the unfolding U.S.-Ukraine negotiations regarding Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor, telling journalists on Tuesday it was “impossible to comment” amid what he called “an information frenzy.”
Russian officials have offered limited reaction to the weekend talks in Geneva, Switzerland, which saw American, European and Ukrainian officials meet to discuss the controversial U.S.-backed peace plan proposal put to Kyiv last week, with terms critics say would have constituted a Ukrainian capitulation.
On Monday, a Ukrainian official close to the matter told ABC News that the original 28-point draft had been revised down to 19 points, with both American and Ukrainian representatives framing the Geneva talks as productive.
Peskov, though, said Tuesday that Moscow could not yet comment. “It’s impossible to comment on every media report right now,” the Kremlin spokesperson said, as quoted by Russia’s state-run Tass news agency.
“I would describe the situation as an information frenzy — there’s no other way to describe it,” he said. “Indeed, a lot of contradictory information is being published, contradictory statements, and so on and so forth.”
Nonetheless, Peskov added that the original U.S. 28-point framework “is currently the only substantive thing.” The Kremlin spokesperson described the proposal as “Trump’s framework.”
“We believe that it could be a very good basis for talks, and this is what our president has stated,” Peskov said. “We will examine it thoroughly when the time comes.”
The initial 28-point American proposal was widely interpreted as favorable to Russia, containing as it did several long-held maximalist Kremlin demands. Among them were that Ukraine cut its armed forces by more than half and cede swaths of territory not yet occupied by Russia.
Ukraine would also be forbidden from possessing long-range weapons, while Moscow would retain virtually all the territory it has occupied — and receive some form of recognition of its 2014 seizure of Crimea under the latest proposed U.S. plan.
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting of his Security Council that the Kremlin had received the 28-point U.S. proposal. “I believe that it could also form the basis for a final peace settlement, but this text has not been discussed with us in detail,” Putin said.
“I believe the reason is the same: the U.S. administration has not yet managed to secure the agreement of the Ukrainian side, as Ukraine is opposed to it,” Putin added. “Apparently, Ukraine and its European allies are still under the illusion that they can inflict a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield.”
The Kremlin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters on Monday that any proposal would require revision by all parties and that so far no one has discussed it with Russia.
“I would assume that it would be natural to expect the Americans to approach us to meet face-to-face and begin discussions,” he said when asked whether talks between Moscow and Washington on the American plan were expected in the coming weeks.
A U.S. official told ABC News that U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held secret talks on Monday with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to follow up on the talks with Ukrainian representatives in Geneva.
Driscoll and his team also met with Ukrainian representatives, a U.S. official told ABC News. “The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,” the official said. “There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.”
A source familiar with the discussions confirmed to ABC News that Ukraine agreed to the new 19-point peace plan during the talks in Geneva, not in Abu Dhabi.
The source added that Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian intelligence, is currently in Abu Dhabi where he is meeting with American officials and might meet with Russian officials as well.
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in televised comments that Moscow had received the peace proposal “through unofficial channels.” There are, he added, “a number of issues that, of course, need clarification.”
It is not entirely clear how many of the 19 remaining points were included in the initial proposal.
But a Ukrainian source briefed on the matter told ABC News that the updated proposed peace agreement does not include a strict limit on the size of the Ukrainian army and does not include any offer of amnesty for acts committed during the war.
U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at progress in a Monday social media post. “Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine???” he wrote on social media.
“Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening,” Trump added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said Monday that “after Geneva, there are fewer points, no longer 28, and a lot of the right things have been taken into account in this framework.”
“There is still something to work on together — very difficult — to make a final document, and we need to do everything with dignity,” he added, saying he will discuss “sensitive” issues with Trump.
Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and long a prominent member of Kyiv’s negotiating team, suggested in a Tuesday social media post that Zelenskyy could visit Washington, D.C. “at the earliest suitable date in November to complete final steps and make a deal with President Trump.”
Zelenskyy, though, said shortly after that Ukraine and Western negotiators had “coordinated our positions and the priority issues for discussion, as well as some of our next steps and contacts.” The president did not mention a potential trip to Washington.
“We see many prospects that can make the path to peace real,” Zelenskyy said. “There are significant results, and much work lies ahead.”
ABC News’ Luis Martinez, Patrick Reevell and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
View of the Cour Napoleon, a historic courtyard in the Louvre Museum and the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France on November 12th, 2025. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
(LONDON) — A fourth suspect believed to be connected to the Oct. 19 jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris has been arrested, according to French authorities.
“Four new individuals were arrested on November 25, 2025, as part of the investigation by the Paris Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction (JIRS) into the burglary committed at the Louvre on October 19, 2025,” according to a statement from the Paris Prosecutor’s Office. “They are two men, aged 38 and 39, and two women, aged 31 and 40, all from the Paris region. These individuals are to be questioned by investigators.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Emergency teams are on the scene dealing with the consequences of a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on November 25, 2025, in which 6 people died, 13 were injured, 18 were rescued, and 57 received psychological support. (Photo by State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(KYIV, Ukraine) — A barrage of at least 22 Russian missiles targeted Ukraine overnight, with at least one striking the capital, Kyiv, in what the Ukrainian minister of energy called a “massive” attack on energy infrastructure.
Russia also fired overnight at least 460 drones, several of which flew into either Moldova or Romania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said early on Tuesday.
“That is why all partners must not forget that every day lives need to be saved,” Zelenskyy said on social media. “Weapons and air defense are important, just as important is the sanction pressure on the aggressor.
Six people were killed and another 13 were injured in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko earlier said two people were killed and seven others were injured.
The missile-and-drone attack followed negotiations in Switzerland over the weekend on a United States-proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan. The strike also followed a secret meeting on Monday between U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, a U.S. official told ABC News.
“Last night, Russia launched another attack – at a time when Ukraine, together with America, Europe, and many others around the world, are working virtually around the clock to stop the bloodshed,” Zelenskyy said on social media.
Residents of the Ukrainian capital were urged to take shelter as air-raid alerts blared.
“And so this night we spend in bombshelters, listening how the missiles rain down on Kyiv,” Kira Rudik, a member of Ukrainian parliament, said on social media. “This is russia’s response to peace negotiations.”
Some areas were experiencing disruptions to power and water, the Klitschko said. A residential building in one area of the city was on fire after debris hit it, he said.
“The enemy attack on Kyiv is ongoing,” Klitschko said in a post to Telegram early Tuesday local time.
Military officials in Ukraine said 438 drones and 14 missiles were destroyed or otherwise didn’t hit their targets. Missile hits and 26 strike drones were recorded impacting across 15 locations, with falling debris reported at 12 locations.
Zelenskyy said Monday said negotiators were were working toward peace “as quickly as possible.” Though he warned Ukrainians that “Russia will not ease its pressure on Ukraine.”
“In these days and weeks, it is essential to take air raid alerts and all similar strike threats very seriously,” he said on X. “We clearly understand whom we are dealing with, and all necessary orders have been issued within the Air Force and across all other components of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces. We will react.”
The strikes on Kyiv come a day after Russia launched over 160 drones into the country, Ukraine’s air force said.
Air defenses shot down or suppressed 125 drones, the air force said, with 37 craft impacting across 15 locations. At least four people were killed in Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv in the attack, the local mayor said.
Officials in Moldova said in a statement that 11 Russian drones entered their airspace overnight into Tuesday morning, one of which fell on a house in the northeast of the country.
Another two entered Romania, which is a NATO member, officials there said. In Romania, two German Typhoons and two Romanian F-16s were scrambled.
A Romanian Defense Ministry spokesperson told ABC News that one drone crashed in the country’s eastern Vaslui County.
It was not immediately clear if the drones were Shahed-style attack drones.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, decried the drone intrusions, saying on social media that they amounted to “yet another reminder that Russian aggression directly threatens not only Ukraine but also other European nations and the transatlantic community as a whole.”
“We stand in solidarity with our Odesa Triangle partners, Romania and Moldova, and condemn these reckless Russian actions,” he added.
ABC News’ David Brennan and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
(LONDON) — A U.S. official told ABC News on Tuesday that a Ukrainian delegation has agreed with the United States on the terms of a potential peace deal.
United States Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held secret talks on Monday with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to follow up on this weekend’s talks with Ukraine in Geneva that were intended to move the Ukraine peace process forward, a U.S. official told ABC News.
“The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,” the U.S. official said. “There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.”
The previously undisclosed talks with the Russian delegation on Monday follow the talks held in Geneva this past weekend between the U.S. and Ukraine and are the latest indication that the new U.S. initiative to restart the peace process in Ukraine is moving forward.
“Late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine,” Lt. Col. Jeffrey Tolbert, a U.S. Army spokesman, said on Tuesday. “The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress.”
Neither Ukraine nor Russia have officially confirmed the presence of their delegations being in Abu Dhabi.
The U.S. delegation at the talks in Geneva was headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Army Secretary Driscoll.
ABC News has learned that the 28-point peace plan presented by the U.S. to Ukraine in Geneva has been revised to a 19-point peace plan that no longer includes a point on the issue of amnesty regarding acts committed during the war, as well as limits on the future size of Ukraine’s military.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said in an address on Monday night that more work needed to be done on the plan that was revised this weekend.
In the wake of this weekend’s talks, Russian officials had said that they had not received any updates about what had been discussed in Geneva and what revisions had been made following the talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
At the conclusion of the Geneva talks, Rubio returned to the United States and Driscoll traveled to Abu Dhabi, where on Monday, he met secretly with a Russian delegation to go over the changes made to the 28-point plan discussed in Geneva, according to the official.
Last week, as Driscoll headed into Ukraine for meetings with Ukrainian officials to move the peace process forward, U.S. officials told ABC News that there was a possibility that in the future Driscoll may meet with Russian officials, though it was unclear when that might take place.
The Army Secretary’s key role in the Trump administration’s efforts to restart the peace talk process emerged following a discussion between President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance two weeks ago.
Typically, a secretary for one of the military services would not be involved in such an important diplomatic overture, but it is possible that sending military might be seen favorably by both Russia and Ukraine.
Ahead of his trip to Ukraine, Driscoll had discussions with Rubio and Steve Witkoff, who has been the administration’s envoy who has worked on peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Stopping in Germany, Driscoll and his delegation participated in additional updates prior to their trip into Ukraine.
Accompanying Driscoll on his trip into Ukraine were Gen. Randy George, the chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Chris Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, and Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, who heads the U.S. military assistance program for Ukraine.
These senior U.S. military officers did not participate in the subsequent talks in Geneva and are not involved in the latest talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi.
(NEW YORK) — Gas prices stand close to their lowest level in four years as tens of millions of people prepare to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The national average for a gallon of gas on Monday tallied at $3.07, which amounts to a slight uptick from a year ago, AAA data showed. But gas prices for each of the last two years have come in below Thanksgiving Day gas prices going back to 2020, when the pandemic slashed demand and cratered prices.
Twenty-eight states boast average gas prices below $3, spanning from Colorado to New Hampshire to Georgia, according to AAA. Oklahoma, the state with the nation’s lowest gas prices, offers drivers a gallon for an average price of $2.50.
Nearly 82 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their home over Thanksgiving, according AAA’s forecast.
The decline in gas prices is owed in part to a steep drop in the cost of crude oil, the underlying commodity that refineries turn into gas, Patrick de Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told ABC News Live. The global benchmark price of Brent crude oil has fallen about 17% since June, clocking in at about $63.40 per barrel.’’
The oil price drop has coincided with the completion of maintenance season for refineries, meaning fuel output is set to grow as facilities reopen capacity previously closed for upkeep, de Haan added.
“With refinery maintenance now wrapping up, that’s going to mean that refineries are able to ramp up oil into their plants,” de Haan said.
Meanwhile, demand for gas has fallen as the busy summer traveling season has given way to an autumn slowdown, putting additional downward pressure on prices.
“Despite the burst of gasoline demand that will occur during Thanksgiving week, overall demand is low this time of year, which helps keep pump prices down,” AAA said in a blog post last week.
Still, prices vary significantly by state.
Drivers in California, the state with the nation’s highest gas prices, pay an average of $4.60 per gallon. Four other states, including Oregon and Alaska, feature average prices above $3.50 a gallon.
By contrast, some gas stations in Texas and Oklahoma tout gas prices as low as nearly $2 per gallon, de Haan said.
“Crossing state lines – that’s a danger zone for gas prices,” de Haan added.
Gas prices may drop even lower, according to de Haan. Gas supply is expected to increase as additional refineries complete maintenance, while demand often eases during the cold winter months.
Those trends could bode well for the next major holiday.
“As we get closer to Christmas, I think the news will continue to improve with gas prices potentially falling below $3 per gallon in the next few weeks,” de Haan said.
(WASHINGTON) — Facing a 30-day deadline to release the Epstein files, the Department of Justice has asked two judges in the Southern District of New York to authorize the release of grand jury transcripts and exhibits from the prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton – whom Attorney General Pam Bondi tapped to lead an investigation into prominent Democrats associated with Epstein – signed a motion asking the judges who oversaw the Epstein and Maxwell cases to approve the release of the grand jury materials, subject to the necessary redactions.
“In the light of the Act’s clear mandate, the Court should authorize the Department of Justice to release the grand jury transcripts and exhibits and modify any preexisting protective orders that would otherwise prevent public disclosure by the Government of materials the disclosure of which is required by the Act,” the motions said, referring to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, recently signed into law by President Trump.
While the motion noted that the law allows redactions to seal materials that “would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution,” the filings did not mention the recently initiated investigation into Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman ordered by Trump.
Citing the 30-day deadline, the Department of Justice requested an expedited ruling on the motion and said it would “work with the relevant United States Attorney’s Offices to make appropriate redactions of victim-related and other personal identifying information.”
The Department of Justice unsuccessfully sought approval to unseal the grand jury records in August, with both judges concluding that the government did not demonstrate a legal basis to release the materials. In one decision, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman sharply criticized the DOJ for asking the court to get involved when the government already had the relevant files in their possession.
“The instant grand jury motion appears to be a ‘diversion’ from the breadth and scope of the Epstein files in the Government’s possession. The grand jury testimony is merely a hearsay snippet of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged conduct,” he wrote.
“The Government’s complete information trove would better inform the public about the Epstein case,” he added.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement logo as seen on ICE vehicle Sept. 19. 2025. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(HOUSTON, Texas) — An employee of a church in the Houston, Texas, area is charged with impersonating a public servant for allegedly pretending to be an ICE agent and threatening to deport a woman unless she paid him $500, according to court documents.
Donald Doolittle, 58, has served as the safety director of the Gateway Community Church of Webster, about 25 miles southeast of Houston, for 10 years, according to an affidavit filed with the Harris County District Court.
According to ABC Houston station KTRK, the alleged victim, identified in court documents as Rita Dumont Mayans, is a massage therapist.
According to a video of a Saturday court hearing obtained by ABC News, after receiving a massage last Thursday, Doolittle got into a disagreement with Mayans over his method of payment.
“And at that point, she said he pulled out an ID card labelled ‘ICE,’ stating he was an ICE agent who needs to see her ID,” a magistrate said during the hearing.
Mayans showed Doolittle her temporary visa, according to the magistrate, after which Doolittle allegedly demanded money from Mayans.
“He demanded she Zelle him $500 or he would take her away and she would never see her family or children again,” according to the magistrate.
Mayans sent Doolittle the money, after which he texted her that she would not hear from any other ICE agents, according to the magistrate.
Police learned of Doolittle’s alleged actions when Mayans encountered officers at a luncheon the following day, according to KTRK.
Doolittle’s bond is set at $10,000, according to court documents.
Neither Doolittle, his attorneys nor Gateway Community Church of Webster immediately responded to an ABC News request for comment.
James Comey speaks, May 30, 2023 in New York City. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that the appointment of the U.S. attorney who brought the indictments was invalid.
The judge dismissed the charges without prejudice, meaning the cases could potentially be refiled by an appropriately appointed U.S. attorney.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie concluded that the appointment of Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan was unconstitutional and that her actions bringing the case were “unlawful” and “ineffective.”
“Because Ms. Halligan had no lawful authority to present the indictment, I will grant Mr. Comey’s motion and dismiss the indictment without prejudice,” she wrote.
Halligan, President Donald Trump’s handpicked U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, sought the indictment of Comey and James over the objections of career prosecutors after Trump forced out previous U.S. attorney Erik Siebert who sources said had resisted bringing the cases.
Halligan, who had no experience as a prosecutor, sought the indictment after Trump, in a social media post, called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to act “NOW!!!” to prosecute Comey, James and Rep. Adam Schiff.
Comey pleaded not guilty in October to one count of false statements and one count of obstruction of a congressional proceeding related to his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, amid what critics call Trump’s campaign of retribution against his perceived political foes.
Vice President JD Vance has said any such prosecutions are “driven by law and not by politics.”
James, who successfully brought a civil fraud case against Trump last year and leads multiple lawsuits challenging his administration’s policies, pleaded not guilty in October to charges that she committed mortgage fraud related to a home she purchased in 2020.
Prosecutors said she falsely described a property she purchased in Norfolk, Virginia, as a second home instead of an investment property in order to obtain a lower mortgage rate. James said she purchased the property for her great-niece and allowed her and her children to live in the house rent-free.”I am heartened by today’s victory and grateful for the prayers and support I have received from around the country,” James said in a statement following Friday’s ruling. “I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day.”
With the statute of limitations for Comey’s case set to expire, it is unclear whether the case could be refiled in time. Lawyers for Comey have argued that the statute of limitations has already run out.
Unlike the case against Comey, the allegations against James appear to be well within the statute of limitations should the Department of Justice try to pursue the case again.
Under federal law, the attorney general has the authority to appoint an interim U.S. Attorney for 120 days before the appointment power shifts to the judges in that federal district. When U.S. Attorney Jessica Aber, who was President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the office, resigned on Jan. 20, Siebert was appointed as interim U.S. attorney.
After 120 days, the power to appoint an interim U.S. attorney shifted from the attorney general to the judges in the Eastern District of Virginia, who used their authority to allow Siebert to continue serving in his role.
“When that clock expired on May 21, 2025, so too did the Attorney General’s appointment authority,” Judge Currie wrote in her decision.
Siebert continued to serve lawfully in his position until September, when he resigned following a pressure campaign from the president. Within 48 hours of Trump’s social media post calling for the prosecution of his political foes, Bondi cited the same federal law that allows a 120-day interim appointment to authorize Halligan as the interim U.S. attorney.
After both Comey and James were indicted, Bondi attempted to ratify Haligan’s appointment, but Judge Currie rejected that attempt to fix the issue after the fact.
“The implications of a contrary conclusion are extraordinary. It would mean the Government could send any private citizen off the street — attorney or not — into the grand jury room to secure an indictment so long as the Attorney General gives her approval after the fact. That cannot be the law,” she wrote.
According to Currie, the decision about who leads the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eastern Virginia is now in the hands of the judges in that district, until Trump nominates and the Senate confirms a permanent U.S. attorney to take over.
