Kristen Holmes
@KristenhCNN
@CNN Senior White House Correspondent, currently on maternity leave. Former elementary school teacher, Oklahoma native, ranch dressing enthusiast.
New: House Freedom Caucus members say their strategy works But many in the GOP now view them as likely to put on a show over red lines – then cave: “I don’t think anybody takes them seriously. They don’t know how to negotiate” W/@KristenhCNN cnn.com/2025/07/17/pol…
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is en route to Middle East to work toward a Gaza ceasefire, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday, citing a conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ghislaine Maxwell will oppose unsealing of grand jury materials related to her & Jeffrey Epstein, a source familiar tells @KaraScannell
Federal judge overseeing case of Ghislaine Maxwell says he needs more info before he can unseal grand jury transcripts requested by DOJ. Set initial deadline of next Tues for DOJ to provide info, including why disclosure being sought & if Maxwell opposes disclosure
Federal judge overseeing case of Ghislaine Maxwell says he needs more info before he can unseal grand jury transcripts requested by DOJ. Set initial deadline of next Tues for DOJ to provide info, including why disclosure being sought & if Maxwell opposes disclosure
National Capital Planning Commission tour of Federal Reserve building is Thurs. Blair last week on who’ll attend: “there's a group of us, not just us on the National Capital Planning Commission, but also OMB & a number of US senators that have expressed interest in this project”
After this, they relented this morning. We go Thursday!
JOHNSON on EPSTEIN situation: "I've been on record very clearly that I believe in maximum transparency. I think every single House Republican will say the same thing. In fact, they told me that publicly and privately ... "We want maximum transparency. We also understand the…
GOP Sen. Josh Hawley tells @mkraju he thinks DOJ should release more than grand jury testimony. "Anything that is not part of a pending prosecution that you can release, I'd be in favor of just getting it all out there," he said adding constituents have been calling about Epstein
Dershowitz also says grand jury transcripts wont be as informative as other info “What's much more important is discovery information, depositions & other things that came out of the Ghislaine Maxwell case, that came out of other cases that were pending..” he told Fox News Sunday
Alan Dershowitz, who once defended Jeffrey Epstein, says Ghislaine Maxwell “would be willing to testify” before Congress if given immunity. “She knows everything. She is the Rosetta Stone,” Dershowitz told “Fox News Sunday.” “She arranged every single trip with everybody.”
New: It was after midnight in Malaysia when Sec Rubio dialed in to a call btw President Trump & NATO SecGen Rutte - a call in which Trump made a major policy pivot on Ukraine. A deep dive into Rubio’s quiet ascent into Trump’s inner circle: cnn.com/2025/07/20/pol…
What this includes: 10 US nationals are on their way back to the US, 252 Venezuelans detained in an El Salvadoran prison were sent back to Venezuela & dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners were released.
Trump administration completes large-scale prisoner swap with Venezuela, w/ @KristenhCNN @priscialva cnn.com/2025/07/18/pol…
Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair says team rejected invite to visit Federal Reserve’s HQ tonight, calling timing “lame attempt at transparency,” from Fed Chair Jerome Powell “We've sent a note back” through OMB “we'd like to come next week. We'd like to come during the day”
Trump administration completes large-scale prisoner swap with Venezuela, w/ @KristenhCNN @priscialva cnn.com/2025/07/18/pol…
NEWS: Trump administration completes large-scale prisoner swap w/ Venezuela. Abt 250 Venezuelans deported from US currently detained in El Salvador were sent back to home country in exchange for remaining American hostages in Venezuela, sources tell CNN. cnn.com/2025/07/18/pol…
President Trump—we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts.
Among the people fired from the State Department: the entire staff of the office assisting families of employees who die overseas, sources told CNN More on the cuts & reorganization- and its impact - from me, @kylieatwood & @AnnieGrayerCNN cnn.com/2025/07/17/pol…
President Trump was examined for swelling in his legs & diagnosed w/ chronic venous insufficiency, @PressSec announces. Trump underwent “comprehensive examination” per note from President’s physician. Adds condition is common “particularly in individuals over the age of 70.”
Very unlikely his Attorney General Pam Bondi will go against him and appoint special prosecutor.
"The President would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That's how he feels," @PressSec says
@KristenhCNN: "Does [the president] have knowledge or an understanding of what is in the files related to Epstein that have not been released?" @PressSec: "Not to my knowledge, and that's a question for the attorney general"
President Trump also dismissed his own decision to appoint Powell to his post during his first term, telling John Solomon, “He was recommended by [former Treasury Secretary Steven] Mnuchin.”