Epstein accuser’s family speaks out; revisiting Kerr County, Texas

Summary

Episode Summary: Epstein Accuser’s Family Speaks Out; Revisiting Kerr County, Texas

Podcast Title: Here's the Scoop
Host: Andrea Mitchell (Guest Host)
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Duration: Approximately 18 minutes

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1. Epstein Controversy: Family Opposes Maxwell Pardon

Andrea Mitchell kicks off the episode by delving into the heated debate surrounding President Donald Trump's potential pardon of Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein. The spotlight is on the family of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most vocal accusers who tragically died by suicide in April.

Key Points:

• Trump's Statement: President Trump recently claimed that Jeffrey Epstein "stole" Virginia Giuffre from his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida where she worked in 2000.

  • Timestamp [01:57]: Hallie Jackson comments, “They were shocked, Andrea, by their own telling that this came up, that the president invoked their sister's name at all.”

• Family's Response: Giuffre's family has publicly urged Trump not to pardon Maxwell, emphasizing that any leniency would be a "travesties of justice" (03:15).

  • Timestamp [03:15]: Jackson states, “They could not be more clear that any leniency, any clemency would be, in their words, one of the highest travesties of justice that would go down in history.”

• White House Reaction: The White House, through Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, indicated that no clemency is currently under discussion, though President Trump has not definitively ruled out a pardon (03:15).

• Maxwell's Defense: Maxwell’s attorney claims she has faced hardships behind bars and may welcome any relief, despite her extensive interrogation by the Department of Justice (03:39).

• Ongoing Debate: The issue remains unresolved, with both the accuser’s family and some of Trump’s loyalists demanding further transparency and accountability (05:01).

Notable Quote:

“They do not want to see Maxwell pardoned. They could not be more clear that any leniency, any clemency would be, in their words, one of the highest travesties of justice that would go down in history.”
— Hallie Jackson, [03:15]

2. Kerr County, Texas: Aftermath of Devastating Floods

Shifting focus, Andrea Mitchell explores the catastrophic floods in Kerr County, Texas, which resulted in over 130 fatalities. The discussion highlights the community's response, the challenges faced during the emergency, and the ongoing recovery efforts.

Key Points:

• Emergency Response: William (also referred to as Thomas), Kerr County’s top emergency coordinator, recounts being mobilized early on July 4th as the floods intensified (07:34).

  • Timestamp [07:34]: Mitchell asks, “As the community continues to search for answers, it's a good opportunity to check in with our co-host, Morgan Chesky...”

• Personal Impact: Co-host Morgan Chesky, who grew up in Kerrville and was present during the floods, shares his personal connection and the community's resilience.

  • Timestamp [08:03]: Chesky reflects, “It's absolutely a process, and it's an unprecedented one that everyone is kind of feeling their way through time.”

• Documentary Highlight: The episode references the NBC News digital documentary “This Hit Home,” which features untold stories from the flood, including the harrowing experiences of residents like Robin Perrin (09:19).

• Infrastructure and Preparedness: Investigations reveal that Kerr County had previously applied for a FEMA grant for improved emergency systems, which was denied. Additionally, a state-approved loan for system upgrades was rejected by county leaders due to financial constraints (10:13).

• Emotional Toll on Journalists: Morgan Chesky shares a poignant moment where he had to balance reporting with attending the funeral of a classmate’s daughter who perished in the floods, highlighting the personal sacrifices made by journalists (12:55).

• Political Response: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session to address emergency preparedness and funding, allowing affected residents to voice their experiences to lawmakers (10:13).

Notable Quote:

“As important a job as we had to tell the stories... was to be there for my friends and family.”
— Morgan Chesky, [13:16]

3. Headlines: NASA Funding, Tariffs, Redistricting, and Hollywood's Harrison Ford

In the concluding segment, Andrea Mitchell presents a roundup of significant national and international headlines:

• NASA and SpaceX Launch Scrubbed:
  The scheduled crew launch to the International Space Station was canceled due to adverse weather conditions.

• Voyager Declaration:
  Former NASA employees issue a stern letter against the Trump administration’s proposed 25% budget cuts, labeling them as threats to safety, national security, and NASA’s core missions. The letter, addressed to acting NASA chief Sean Duffy, arrives amid a backdrop of 4,000 employee departures.

• Trump’s Tariff Moves:

  • Tariff Deadline Extension:
    President Trump extended the tariff deadline by 90 days to continue negotiations with Mexico.
  • 50% Tariff on Brazil:
    Imposed two days ahead of schedule, targeting Brazil due to Trump’s support for former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for allegedly leading a coup—paralleling charges from January 6th.
    • Timestamp [16:00]: Discussion on Trump’s loyalty influencing trade sanctions.

• Sanctions on Brazil’s Supreme Court Chief Justice:
  Secretary of State Rubio sanctioned the Chief Justice, accusing him of human rights abuses related to Bolsonaro’s trial.

• Texas Redistricting:
  Texas Republicans unveiled a new congressional map aiming to create five GOP-leaning seats ahead of the 2030 census. Critics label it as a racially motivated gerrymander targeting urban centers, likely leading to legal battles and retaliatory redistricting from blue states.

  • Timestamp [16:45]: “Let the redistricting wars begin.”

• Harrison Ford on Hollywood:
  At 83, Harrison Ford expresses gratitude for continued roles in Hollywood, emphasizing that age-appropriate characters keep his career fulfilling. He humorously remarks, “It's not the year, Sonny, it's the mileage,” highlighting his enduring passion for filmmaking.

  • Timestamp [17:15]: Ford shares, “It's not the year, Sonny, it's the mileage.”

Notable Quote:

“Secretary of State Rubio just slapped sanctions on Brazil's Supreme Court chief justice, accusing him of human rights abuses...”
— Andrea Mitchell, [16:30]

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Conclusion

This episode of "Here's the Scoop" provides an in-depth look at two major stories: the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s legacy and potential pardons, and the tragic floods in Kerr County, Texas, highlighting both the human and political dimensions of these events. Additionally, the headlines segment keeps listeners informed on critical national and international developments, ensuring a comprehensive roundup of the day's most pressing issues.

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For more detailed reporting and exclusive insights, visit NBC News.

Transcript

[Lester Holt]

DATELINE is hitting the road for a first of its kind event, and you're invited. Join the entire DATELINE team in Nashville, Tennessee, for DATELINE Live. Hear from Lester, Blaine, Andrea, Josh, Keith and Dennis. Plus, live demonstrations, a VIP reception and more. The true crime original like you've never seen before, live in the heart of Music City. For more details on DATELINE live, head to datelinenbc.com Tickets available. Tuesday, August 5.

[Andrea Mitchell]

Welcome to here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Andrea Mitchell back as guest host. It's my last day here this week, so let's get right to it. The clock is counting down on President Donald Trump's tariff deadline at midnight tonight and an accountability hearing in Kerr County, Texas, on the response to the deadly flood. But first, the continued firestorm surrounding the White House and Jeffrey Epstein. The family of one of Jeffrey Epstein's most vocal accusers, Virginia Giuffre, is speaking out, urging President Trump not to pardon convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre died by suicide in April. Her family's plea comes after Trump told reporters Epstein stole Giuffre from his Mar a Lago Club in Florida where she worked in 2000. Here to discuss the latest developments is Hallie Jackson, NBC News senior Washington correspondent, of course, host of Hallie Jackson. Now. Hallie, thank you for being with us.

[Hallie Jackson]

Yes, it's good to be with you.

[Andrea Mitchell]

So let's put this in context, because the president said about Virginia Giuffre that he stole her. He, Jeffrey Epstein, stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know, none whatsoever. Well, he used the word stole. Was that a trigger for the family?

[Hallie Jackson]

They were shocked, Andrea, by their own telling that this came up, that the president invoked their sister's name at all. In fact, they talked about how it raises questions for them as to whether the president was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal actions. They said we in the public are asking for answers. Survivors deserve this. Now keep in mind that President Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein's wrongdoing previously. The family in this statement that has come out is clearly upset. They do not want to see Maxwell pardoned. They could not be more clear that any leniency, any clemency would be, in their words, one of the highest travesties of justice that would go down in history. The White House has responded to this letter, to this statement you heard from White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt suggesting, and I'm paraphrasing here, Andrea, saying Listen, the president was asked about this on Air Force One. He responded to the questioner. And then a senior administration official tells our Peter Alexander, our correspondent who covers the White House, that no leniency or clemency has been discussed or is under discussion here. The president himself last week said he hadn't really given that much thought. But he also, Andrea, when repeatedly asked about this, he also hasn't ruled out a pardon definitively for Ghislaine Maxwell.

[Andrea Mitchell]

And because the president hasn't shut the door on it, and she has everything to gain with actually saying things that the Trump White House would like to hear, clearing President Trump of any involvement, which would be great for them potentially in exchange for something. She seems to have leverage here. And the family describes her in such strong terms.

[Hallie Jackson]

They call her a predator who thought only of herself. The family says that Maxwell destroyed the lives of girls and young women without conscience. Her attorney, Maxwell's attorney has said that she has had a difficult time behind bars, that she would obviously welcome any relief from this. Keep in mind that she spent two days, right. Nine hours taking and answering questions from the number two at the Department of Justice here, something like a hundred questions, according to her attorney. He says they asked Maxwell basically everything under the sun. So it is still very much, Andrea, a live ball, if that makes sense. This is not going away.

[Andrea Mitchell]

Just this week, Maxwell was described by a Newsmax host as, quote, she just might be a victim. Is this an attempt to clean up her image after everything she was convicted of doing?

[Hallie Jackson]

We haven't heard that language from the White House, Andrea, I would say, and remember, she has been convicted. Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison. The family of Virginia Giuffre, you know, describes. And Giuffre herself before she died by suicide in April, very publicly, including in an interview with our own Savannah Guthrie years ago for dateline, very publicly described how she was, she says, recruited by Maxwell. The credibility question for Maxwell is certainly there.

[Andrea Mitchell]

The Giuffre family said, you know, survivors want answers. They deserve answers. Are they gonna get any?

[Hallie Jackson]

Well, that's the question. That's the million dollar question, Andrea, because I will tell you who also wants answers, and that is some in the president's base, some of his own Republican supporters who have been beating the drum essentially about wanting to know more information about the Epstein files. So you are seeing this splintering on this very specific and particular issue among people who are candidly MAGA loyalists. They back President Trump. So the political piece of this doesn't seem like it's going away anytime soon.

[Andrea Mitchell]

For the president, Hallie Jackson. Thank you. And we should note you're gonna talk to Giuffre's family for your show tonight and for Nightly News. So we'll all be watching.

[Hallie Jackson]

Thank you for having me, Andrew. I appreciate it.

[Andrea Mitchell]

My pleasure. All right, we're gonna take a quick break and when we're back, we check in on the search for after the devastating floods in Texas hill Country. Stay tuned.

[Lester Holt]

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[Andrea Mitchell]

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[Lester Holt]

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[Andrea Mitchell]

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[Lester Holt]

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[Andrea Mitchell]

Welcome back to here's the Scoop. In Kerr County, Texas, officials held a hearing to discuss the devastating flood earlier this month that killed more than 130 people. At the hearing, William, dubbed Thomas, Kerr County's top emergency coordinator, said he was sick. And as floods hit, I was awakened.

[Lester Holt]

Around 5:30am on July 4th by my wife following a call from the city of Kerrville EMC Jeremy Hughes requesting that I mobilize. I reported immediately to the sheriff's office. There was no visible flooding on my drive into the office, but it quickly became clear that the situation was escalating.

[Andrea Mitchell]

As the community continues to search for answers, it's a good opportunity to check in with our co host, Morgan Chesky, who grew up in Kerrville and was on the ground in the aftermath of the flood. He's also featured in a new NBC News digital documentary called this Hit Home about the community's recovery. Morgan Chesky, thank you so much for joining us. You're no longer on the ground in Kerr county, but how are people there doing? How's your mom? How are all your people Doing? Yeah.

[Lester Holt]

Andrea, good to be with you. You know, it's absolutely a process, and it's an unprecedented one that everyone is kind of feeling their way through time. You know, very early on, my mom and I knew that our family was one of the lucky ones here. We had a home to return to. Our family was still whole. And unfortunately, along the Guadalupe river, that's almost the exception to the rule. The first week or two following this, you could see just the shock on so many faces witnessing the devastation, the aftermath. And then slowly but surely, as this recovery has started to take hold, there's certainly rising questions on what happened from an emergency standpoint, from a warning standpoint. And so it's this blend of sorrow and frustration. There's a touch of anger there. And with this documentary that we had a chance to put together, we've tried to seek out stories that have not been shared yet. And that's certainly the case with a woman named Robin Perrin. Our team met her. She lives just a stone's throw from the river in Kerrville. And here's how she described some of those initial days following the flood.

[Andrea Mitchell]

There have been, maybe, I can't even tell you, hundreds of workers that are out here between like, 6ft of debris to 40ft of debris in different areas.

[Lester Holt]

Robin shared that as they were moving that debris, cadaver dogs made multiple hits, and recovery crews came in and found bodies there, located near several RVs that had been washed downriver. And I would love to tell you that her story is unique, but unfortunately, it's not.

[Andrea Mitchell]

It is so horrific, and it calls to mind, how can they. How can we as a country prevent this from happening again? What about the warnings, the alarms? What is the community learning? I know they're talking to officials as we speak.

[Lester Holt]

Right. And it's human nature to look back and try to figure out how to not replicate this, how to make sure a tragedy of this scale doesn't strike again. The answer is a little messy. So I want to break down two key points that have been discussed that our team's been digging into. Our team's reporting showed that Kerr county did apply for a FEMA grant that would have been about a million dollars for improved emergency systems. Now, we've reported this, that it was denied back in, but we also found out, and this is brand new, that just last year, Kerr county had applied to the state of Texas for funds to upgrade the system. And not only that, but the state approved the money, which was mostly in the form of a loan. Now, if you're in A place like Harris county, which includes Houston, it's not a big deal to pay that back with a tax base that vast. But in a place like Kirk county, which is home to about 50,000 or so people, spreading that cost out absolutely hits differently. That money was not accepted by county leaders, who have not shared on record the exact reason why. But other officials have said essentially that they couldn't afford it.

[Andrea Mitchell]

I mean, that's just extraordinary. So, Morgan, is there any movement on this now?

[Lester Holt]

The conversation has certainly started here. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called this special legislative session and that this will be one of the key focal points. People in Kerr county are going to have a chance to share their statements with local, county and state lawmakers to let them know how they've been personally impacted by this flood. And I do want to leave you with one point here. As they try to figure out a way forward here, I think people need to be aware that if you live in Kerr county or anywhere, really in the hill country, you cannot count how many flood watches or warnings you get on your phone or notified via email. And so that's why I was not surprised when Robin Perrin shared this with our team following the flood.

[Andrea Mitchell]

We do get alerts here. That's normal. And we turn it off because we hear it all the time. We don't really pay a whole lot of attention to it, unfortunately, I think we will. Now, the fact is there is so much emotion, so much terrible experience connected to all this. You were talking to one of your producers about setting up a meeting with an official back when you were covering this. And I want to play this exchange because it's so telling.

[Lester Holt]

You have to make a decision about it tomorrow. Pull the pack. I don't know how much they're even going to give us.

[Andrea Mitchell]

Want to do it at 10?

[Lester Holt]

No, that's my buddy's daughter's funeral. No. No.

[Andrea Mitchell]

So is it hard to listen to that now? Play it back to you. And what was your reaction at the time? What were you thinking?

[Lester Holt]

Oh, yeah, that was Friday evening after our first full week reporting there on the ground in Kerrville. And it reminds me that as important a job as we had to tell the stories, to let the nation, the world know what was happening there in Kerrville, in Kerr County. I think my most important role, really, in being there was to be there for my friends and family. And there was a classmate of mine that we were on the football team together in high school, and his daughter was one of those young girls lost at Camp Mystic. And I knew as soon as her funeral services were set for Saturday at 10am that there wasn't anywhere else in the world I needed to be more. But I think that what that moment shows is just a very odd place to be. And it's, I think that's something I'm still processing.

[Andrea Mitchell]

Well, Morgan, we are so grateful to you for being there and for telling the story from such a unique perspective. Morgan Chesky, co host of here's the Scoop. Thanks for being with us today.

[Lester Holt]

Thank you.

[Andrea Mitchell]

The documentary is called this Hit Home and you can watch it on nbcnews.com Moving on to some headlines. NASA and SpaceX were supposed to launch a new crew to the ISS today, but it was scrubbed due to weather. Meanwhile, former NASA employees are sounding the alarm. In a blistering letter dubbed the Voyager Declaration, they slammed the Trump administration's proposed budget cuts, nearly 25% of NASA's funding as a threat to safety, national security, and the agency's core mission. Addressed to Trump's new acting NASA chief, Sean Duffy, who doubles as the secretary of transportation, the letter comes as 4,000 employees have already left. Amid the shakeup, President Trump said he wouldn't extend tonight's tariff deadline, but guess what? He just did. Now the US and Mexico will get a 90 day reprieve to keep negotiating. As for Brazil, no such luck. Two days ahead of schedule. Trump hit them with a steep 50% tariff, despite the US running a trade surplus with Brazil thanks to coffee, oranges and oil. So why the harshest sanctions yet? Well, it's because of Trump's loyalty to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, now on trial for allegedly leading a coup against his successor. The charge is strikingly similar to January 6th, but Trump calls it persecution, adding fuel to the fire. Secretary of State Rubio just slapped sanctions on Brazil's Supreme Court chief justice, accusing him of human rights abuses, namely ordering Bolsonaro to wear an ankle monitor and avoid contact with foreign leaders like Trump during his trial. And the double whammy against Brazil is drawing international outrage, leaving many to ask why the world's fourth largest democracy is being punished more harshly than US Rivals and for an issue that has nothing at all to do with trade. Texas Republicans just unveiled a bold new congressional map, not waiting as usual for the census coming in 2030. Their stated aim is to create five new GOP leaning seats, giving their slim House majority a little breathing room. The plan, instigated in talks with Trump, slices up urban areas like Austin, Dallas and Houston. Democrats are fuming, calling it a racially motivated gerrymander and threatening another walkout to block the move. Legal challenges are likely past. Texas maps haven't exactly passed the Voting Rights act muster. And now blue state governors are eyeing revenge redraws of their own. Let the redistricting wars begin. At 83, iconic actor Harrison Ford says he's grateful Hollywood is still calling. And don't worry, he's still picking up. The legendary Indiana Jones star and a host of other films joked it's nice when they still hire old guys and says age appropriate roles keep things interesting. He's enjoying filmmaking more than ever, he says, and has no plans to slow down. As Indy once said, it's not the year, Sonny, it's the mileage. In case you missed that, it's not the years, honey, it's the mileage. And speaking of mileage, I'm running for a train to get back to D.C. but I've had so much fun joining you on here's the Scoop. You'll be hearing from me again soon. Signing off for NBC News from 30 Rock. I'm Andrea Mitchell.

[Lester Holt]

Taking over the helm of NBC nightly news, a 75 year old broadcast. It's a great responsibility. Good evening. I'm Tom Yamas. You have to go out there to bring people at home closer to the store. Wildfires continue to be a threat, Right? With that massive hurricane comes the massive response. The best reporters in our business know how to listen. And when you listen, you get the truth. For NBC News, NBC News, I'm Tom Yamas. That's what we do every night, NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. Evenings on NBC.