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DOJ Release of Epstein Files; The Numbers on Trump, Immigration and Latinos; V.A. Secretary Faces Lawmakers; Minnesota Businesses Become Target; Melania Trump's Documentary. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired January 28, 2026 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[08:30:58]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, more than a month after the Justice Department was required by law to release all of its files on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation we have a new read now on when the public might actually see all of this material. This is coming from a new court filing just in that top Justice Department officials say that the files are coming, quote, "in the near future," but also telling the judge they could not provide a specific date for when they would complete a review of all the files.

Joining me now, CNN's senior legal analyst, Elie Honig, for much more on this.

Something of a timeline slash not a timeline. I mean these files were due, Elie, by law to be released in total December 19th of 2025. So, what do you see in this and what would you put as your expectation to see all of the Epstein files?

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Right. When is, quote, "in the near future"? Heaven only knows, Kate. So, let's do the timeline here.

This law passes in November. Almost every single person on Capitol Hill votes for it. It passes 427-1 in the House. Passes unanimously in the Senate. And then President Trump signs the bill on November 19th, as you said. Gave DOJ 30 days to complete all of the production. All of it. So, everything was due December 19th.

Instead, what we got from DOJ was a statement on December 19th that, well, we're starting today. And now here we are, Kate, we are 40, four zero, days after the deadline. And if you want to do a little math, DOJ represented publicly about two weeks ago in early January that they had produced one percent of the entire Epstein files. Now, if you do the math on that and multiply it out, that comes out to about four years to produce the files.

Now, I don't think it's going to take that long. I'm sure. We know they've marshaled resources and hopefully they've found some efficiency. But I don't think soon is anytime especially soon.

BOLDUAN: I want to talk about those efficiencies, or lack thereof in a second.

But -- so, the -- they talk about being -- not being able to give a specific date on when they're going to complete this review of the files, which occurs before they release them. The Justice Department, as we know and have discussed, can make redactions for specific reasons to protect ongoing investigations, to protect victims. But from the Epstein Transparency Act, they're not allowed to redact because the release would cause embarrassment or reputational harm to any one person or place or thing. But that leads to the question of, how do you know if they -- what the metric is for what they're redacting or not?

HONIG: So, we're sort of at the mercy of DOJ's competency and good faith here. But thus far, Kate, you're right, the redactions have been a mess. First of all, the law says, as you say, you're not allowed to redact out names because it might cause embarrassment or political damage. Yet it appears DOJ is doing just that. The law also says DOJ must produce any internal communications, internal strategic memos. And it appears DOJ is actually holding those back.

And then finally, the most important thing is to properly redact out victim identities. And there have been instances where they've failed to do that as well. Victims have complained that some of the names have come out. So, they're behind the ball here in terms of timing, and they're not doing an especially effective and accurate job in the process.

BOLDUAN: And this is -- I mean take this in the context of, DOJ has other jobs, right? So, the Justice Department called in extra help to do this.

HONIG: Yes.

BOLDUAN: They say they have hundreds of department employees manually reviewing these millions of pages, if you will. What impact do you think this could be having on the department's ability to do normal criminal work?

HONIG: It's a major, major diversion of resources. You're taking real prosecutors who would ordinarily be doing drug cases and mob cases and terrorism cases and fraud cases and putting them instead on reviewing the Epstein files.

[08:35:05]

Now, I don't think that's DOJ's fault. I think if you want to lay blame for that, it sits with the law itself.

However, there was reporting recently that my old office, the Southern District of New York, has diverted dozens of prosecutors, including some of the prosecutors, just as one example, who were on the Nicolas Maduro case. So, that gives you a sense that there's a real cost here in terms of DOJ's personnel and resources. But again, that's what the law requires.

Now, DOJ should have come up with a better plan, by the way. They could have assigned this out to less crucial folks. But there's a real cost here.

BOLDUAN: Yes, 30 days by law. Could be four years if you stick to this schedule. That is quite something.

Elie, thank you, buddy.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, just a short time ago, Kate, who has been busy this morning, spoke to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said if Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is not fired, Democrats are launching an impeachment investigation. He also said her departure alone is not enough and is urging Senate Democrats, Democrats in the Senate who have control of this right now to block funding Homeland Security unless changes are made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Well, first of all, there's the basic value and principle that taxpayer dollars can't be used to kill American citizens to brutalize American communities and to target violently law-abiding --

BOLDUAN: Currently that's not a policy that says you can use taxpayer dollars to kill Americans. It's -- you see what I'm saying?

JEFFRIES: No, that's actually -- no, that -- that's -- that's -- that's clearly what's happening. We have a DHS killing machine. The American people have seen this year. This is an administration that promised to deport violent felons. We all support that. But that's not what's happening right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: With us now is Congressman Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Illinois.

Congressman, thanks so much for being with us.

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader, just said that if Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary, is not fired or doesn't quit, he would like to launch impeachment investigations and proceedings. How interested are you in pursuing impeachment?

REP. MIKE QUIGLEY (D-IL): You know, absolutely. At the end of last year, President Trump said to U.S. generals, American cities are the perfect training ground to search out the enemy of the American people. We now understand what the American -- the enemy is. It's us, right? So, when the president tries to blame somebody else for this, or say there wasn't protocol followed, this is his. He's the one who cried havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Well, those dogs are killing innocent Americans. The only way to stop this is to draw attention to it and to bring those responsible to accountability.

BERMAN: So, it's Kristi Noem. Because you're just saying it's the president who is setting the tone. So, if you're putting -- pointing the finger at him, why not launch impeachment proceedings on him and not Kristi Noem?

QUIGLEY: Look, I've been part of two impeachment investigations where I voted yes to impeach President Trump. I would support that again. This has gotten to a point where much worse than the first Trump administration, this is a tyrant run amok. He is killing Americans. He has destroyed the rule of law. It is time to wake people up and let them understand just how dramatic this is.

This is just his first year of his second term. Who knows what he has in store. So, the accountability has to begin. And if the -- if the vehicle is at first Kristi Noem, fine. But I think everyone has to be held accountable for the horror, the terror that my citizens, my constituents feel in Chicago and all those across the country.

BERMAN: And you alluded to this, but White House deputy chief of staff adviser, Stephen Miller, is now trying to suggest that maybe Customs and Border Protection wasn't following protocol. He said, "the White House provided clear guidance to DHS that extra personnel that have been sent to Minnesota for force protection should be used for conducting fugitive operations, to create a physical barrier between the arrest teams and the disrupters." He went on to say, "we're evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol."

How satisfied are you with that statement?

QUIGLEY: Yes, look, this is a president -- yes, look, this is a president who, when he was running for president the first time called and said that those who are undocumented in this country were monsters, rapists, murderers. You know, he has sown this violence. He has encouraged it. He hasn't said at any point in time that it was wrong.

You know, we've now had communities terrorized and people killed. And now, for the first time, because the brutality was so obvious and the lies that homeland was talking about, ICE was talking about, for every single one of those shootings, two of them in Chicago, have finally hit the base of the American people and got to them.

[08:40:03]

And I think that's finally broken through to the Republicans who understand this. And that's why the president is finally perhaps shifting to a degree. It's certainly not enough.

BERMAN: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Twitter, this is after his meeting with Tom Homan. And Homan and Governor Tim Walz and Frey all spoke in positive terms about these meetings. But afterwards Frey said, "I made it clear to Tom Homan that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe. City leaders will continue to stay in the conversation with Mr. Homan and his team."

Now, the White House conservatives and now the president, just a few minutes ago, very critical of that statement, that he says "Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws." How do you feel about that message from Democrat -- elected Democrats?

QUIGLEY: Look, there's a mission that's involved with what ICE and Homeland Security is supposed to do, keep our borders safe, making sure drugs and people aren't trafficked, removing criminals. It's just not what they're doing. The vast majority of the people that they've picked up don't have a criminal background.

And I think there's a real danger when you blur the distinction between ICE's function and local law enforcement. And it's a dangerous one.

Here in Chicago, I went to our domestic violence courthouse and learned that women are now afraid to go there because of ICE's presence to get orders of protection, to protect them. And that calls to 911 for police service in communities like Pilsen and Little Village are down dramatically because people are afraid of that connection.

So, I introduced -- reintroduce legislation that would eliminate the 287-G program. There is a way, other means for the cooperation to exist without deputizing law enforcement, you know, because they've destroyed the original mission of what ICE is supposed to do. And now they simply can't be trusted.

BERMAN: Congressman Mike Quigley from Illinois, thanks for your time this morning.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: So, Latino voters helped President Trump secure a second term. How do they feel now in the midst of everything we're talking about? The president's aggressive and widespread immigration crackdown and the immigration law enforcement operations we're seeing in places like Minnesota.

CNN's Harry Enten running the numbers on this one.

So, Harry, give us a baseline. Where is Trump standing with Latino voters right now?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, I'll give you a baseline. And I'll just say there has been a massive backlash against the president of the United States among Latino voters, because what are we talking about here? Well, let's just take a look at Trump's net approval rating among Latinos.

You know, you go back a year ago, right at the beginning of his first term, it wasn't too bad, right, about five points underwater. A lot of Republicans would really like that. But take a look where we are today, over a 20-point decline now down to negative 28 points Donald Trump's net approval rating among Latinos. A much larger drop we've seen among Latinos than we have seen among the American electorate overall.

BOLDUAN: What about the deportation program, though?

ENTEN: Yes, OK. So, what is causing this, right?

BOLDUAN: Right.

ENTEN: There have been a lot of things in which the American people dislike Donald Trump more than they did a year ago. But among Latinos, they really, really, really --

BOLDUAN: That's what's driving all of this?

ENTEN: That is a big, big driver of what's going on here. Trump's net approval rating among Latinos on his deportation program. Look at this. You go back a year ago, according to the CBS News/YouGov poll, he was right at even, right? As many people approved as disapproved. Again, that's really good numbers for a Republicans among Latinos.

But look at where we are now, 34 points underwater. There has been an over 30-point shift away, away from Donald Trump among Latinos on his deportation program. What we have seen among Latinos is a drop overall, much of which is being driven by how they are viewing his deportation program. I saw one of the founders for Latinos for Trump the other day say immigration is going to cost Republicans during the midterm elections. And when you look at numbers like this, you have to say, hey, she's coming from the numbers because the numbers agree with that. Latinos do not like what Donald Trump is doing on his deportation program, and it is driving his overall numbers down.

Look at this, I mean you rarely ever see a 35-point decline over a year, but it is happening with Trump among Latinos on his deportation program. No, no, no is what the Latino community is saying.

BOLDUAN: Well then add it all up and look towards the midterms. What do you see?

ENTEN: Yes, OK. So, you see these numbers among Trump, but they don't really matter if, of course, we don't actually see Latinos taking out their anger on Republicans in Congress. So, what are we seeing here, choice for election among Latinos. Back in November of 2024, Kamala Harris won Latinos, but just by four points. It was one of the best, if not the best performance for a Republican presidential candidate on record, Donald Trump.

But look at where we are now in the 2026 race for Congress. Democrats have widened, expanding that lead. They're now up by 19 points, a 15- point switcheroo from the margin that we saw in the 2024 presidential election. Latinos are very angry with Donald Trump, and it looks like in this midterm election they're going to take out that anger on Republicans at the ballot box.

[08:45:06]

BOLDUAN: Harry, thank you.

ENTEN: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: It's important to keep an eye on, for sure.

ENTEN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: John.

BERMAN: Today, Veteran Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will face lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The Pentagon's new near-total ban on abortions is expected to be a focus. Opponents say the policy will leave veterans with fewer options than women have in federal prisons.

CNN's Brian Todd, who does such a great job covering veterans issues in the V.A., is with us now.

Brian, what are you hearing on this?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, this new rule by the V.A. is just so controversial. Critics, specifically Democrats in Congress, are using words like draconian, cruel and reckless to describe it. The new V.A. rule essentially, which was enacted quietly over the holidays by the way, imposes a near-total ban on abortion services for women veterans who seek reproductive care through the V.A. This new rule bans abortions even in cases of rape, incest and in some cases when the health of the mother is at risk. Under the new V.A. rule, abortions will only be authorized by the V.A. in the cases of ectopic pregnancies, that's when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus, in the cases of miscarriages, or if a doctor determines that the mother's life is endangered if she carries the fetus to term. This reverses a Biden-era rule at the V.A., which did allow for abortions in the cases of rape and incest.

This all means that women veterans who seek abortion services through the V.A. now have less access to abortions and are more restricted in seeking that than female inmates who are incarcerated in U.S. federal prisons. Bureau of Prisons policy does say that funding can be used for abortions in the cases of rape and incest involving female inmates.

This has drawn -- this new V.A. rule has drawn outrage from women veterans who we've spoken to, women's rights and reproductive groups. We spoke to Lauren Feringa, she's a former Army combat medic, who has had abortions in the V.A. system. This is what she said, quote, "this is all insane. Women have to be the only authority over what goes on with their bodies. You're not going to provide care for a woman who's been raped? It seems dystopian.

Women's rights and reproductive groups are really concerned, John, about what effect this is going to have in relation to the women in the military who suffer military sexual trauma. And there are a lot of them, according to every survey that the Pentagon has undertaken in the recent -- in recent years.

This is from Jackie Wang. She's from the National Women's Law Center. Quote, "when we think of the number of women veterans who have suffered military sexual trauma, it's unconscionable that the administration would implement a policy like this."

Now, we, of course, went to the V.A., asked them why they changed this rule. V.A. press Secretary Peter Kasperowicz said this, quote, "the Department of Justice issued an opinion that states that V.A. is not legally authorized to provide abortions." That opinion was handed down on December 18th. Kasperowicz did not elaborate on why they changed the rules regarding rape and incest.

Now, some Republicans in Congress are praising this rule. Congressman Mike Bass, he's the Republican chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said it was wrong for the Biden administration to change those rules in 2022. And in his words, essentially, taxpayers do not want their hard-earned money paying for abortions. This applies really, John, mostly to women veterans seeking reproductive care in the V.A. system. Very controversial. As you mentioned, V.A. Secretary Doug Collins is going to appear before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee this afternoon. It's almost certain he'll get questions on this.

BERMAN: And I know you'll be watching that closely.

Brian Todd, great reporting on this, as always. Thank you.

Very shortly, the first lady rings in the opening bell on Wall Street in advance of the release of her big money documentary.

And a politician targeted in a rocket attack in broad daylight. Incredible video. What happened to this mayor and the people who shot at him?

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[08:53:04]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Back live here in Minneapolis where we've been talking to the community members, and particularly businesses, those businesses that are on that strip where Alex Pretti was shot by a Border Patrol agent who had to deal with all manner of things. As one of them put it, all hell broke loose when that happened.

Let me let you hear from the businesses and what they have experienced as residents and business owners hear the pain and the beauty of what's happened since.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN MARSHALL, OWNER, MISCHIEF TOYS: ICE should be abolished.

TRACY WONG, OWNER, MY HUONG KITCHEN: I got nervous and I got scared and I don't know what to do.

SIDNER (voice over): Those are the voices of twin city business owners trying to navigate the chaos of President Trump's immigration crackdown here. Tracy Wong owns My Huong Kitchen. She was here when tensions exploded right outside her window. I met her with a face full of tear gas, unable to breathe.

T. WONG: I've been getting ready to open up my store, and somehow that I see outside kind of like boom, boom, boom. SIDNER (voice over): She quickly closed down, but seeing the

desperation of strangers, she opened her doors, offering free snacks, warmth and shelter.

T. WONG: People were crying. People were throwing up. Throwing up. How can I not open up the door to that people that to come in that I can help?

SIDNER (voice over): Her younger brother, Alex, broke down in tears at the sight of his sister's kindness.

T. WONG: I love America.

SIDNER (voice over): Their parents fled the Vietnam War, only to find warlike conditions on their doorstep in America decades later.

ALEX WONG, TRACY WONG'S BROTHER: Our story starts with us. Why we're here. We're immigrants. And our parents, they're older now, and they left this behind, and it's at our front door now.

SIDNER (voice over): On the same street, a couple blocks away, the award-winning Greek restaurant Christos saw all hell breaks loose.

[08:55:06]

GUS PARPAS, OWNER, CHRISTOS: It's very unfortunate that they would have to tear gas people and pepper spray them. They're not violent people here.

SIDNER (voice over): Gus Parpas started his family-run restaurant 38 years ago. He says his own staff member, legally allowed to be in the country, was snatched up by ICE agents at a random checkpoint and held for days.

SIDNER: Someone from your own restaurant?

PARPAS: Yes. Yes, they grabbed him. Yanked him out of the car and handcuffed him and took him away, despite his protestations that, hey, I'm legal.

SIDNER (voice over): We reached out to DHS for comment. So far have heard nothing.

Standing in front of a street art sign that he used to board up his business in 2020 during the George Floyd protests, Parpas says he cannot believe what he's seeing. The strong-arm tactics being used by federal agents here.

SIDNER: Do you want ICE to leave the community?

PARPAS: I think everyone in the twin cities wants them to leave. You've seen what they do.

SIDNER: You feel it's unsustainable?

SIDNER (voice over): Across the river in Saint Paul, a family-run toy store is in ICE's crosshairs now. Owner Dan Marshall says hours after the family went on national television criticizing ICE, federal agents knocked on their doors.

MARSHALL: Three hours later we were served with an audit from two ICE agents that came into the store.

SIDNER: So, after you publicly spoke out against ICE --

MARSHALL: Yes.

SIDNER: You suddenly got two agents at your door?

MARSHALL: Yes. Exactly.

SIDNER: Demanding what?

MARSHALL: They're demanding our I-9 records for our five part-time employees, none of whom are immigrants. They're all born in the U.S.

SIDNER (voice over): Marshall says agents told them not to talk about the audit.

SIDNER: Are you afraid?

MARSHALL: Yes, we're deeply afraid. I think every Minnesotan right now is afraid and traumatized. And we just want this to end.

SIDNER (voice over): The response from the community, enormous. Now on top of toys, they sell hundreds of anti-ICE signs every day.

MARSHALL: There you go.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: So, you are seeing some real emotion there. Some real fear. But also an incredible response from the community. In each of those places, people are coming just to support those businesses. By the way, we spent quite a bit of time at each of those businesses watching just this outpouring of love and support. Minnesotans coming to the rescue of their fellow Minnesotans.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: In the midst of all of it, you're really seeing some real signs and real evidence and just also the reality of just how loving the community is and how they are trying to, in any way they can, come together as they face all of this down.

Thanks, Sara.

Also this morning, Melania Trump is stepping into the spotlight in a big new way. Shortly, the first lady is expected to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. She's there to promote her documentary, which releases tomorrow. "Melania" is the title. And a lot has been made about this -- about the documentary, about the camera crews that have followed her around since the Trump's moved back into the White House.

This week is also clearly a big test then for the first lady and Amazon MGM Studios, which spent tens of millions of dollars on this project.

CNN's Betsy Klein tracking this one from the White House for us.

Betsy, what are you hearing about this?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Kate, I just want to take a step back and talk about the role that the first lady has played in her husband's second term. She has a couple of initiatives. Foster children, A.I. safety, reunifying Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. But she has stayed largely under the radar, splitting her time in this term, largely between Florida and New York. And that is by design. Her preference is not to be involved.

But over the past few months in the scale up to the premiere of this documentary, she has been ramping up her public appearances and sitting for the first time in more than a year for a televised interview. And again, I just want to underscore how rare it is for this first lady to weigh in on current events. But Melania Trump, asked by "Fox and Friends" her reaction and message on Minneapolis.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY: We need to unify. I'm calling for unity. I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they're working together to make it peaceful and without riots. I'm against the violence. So, if, please, if you protest, protest in peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Now, again, the reason for this television appearance is promoting her documentary. And a lot is at stake here. Amazon MGM Studios spent about $40 million in this deal with Melania Trump.

[09:00:01]

They have also spent about $35 million marketing it, setting up a massive test for whether they are able to mobilize fans of the first lady