Legal

Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump had a "deep" relationship ... all because of their lust for hot models, according to author Michael Wolff.

Wolff addressed the latest controversy engulfing President Trump over his past association with Epstein on his podcast, "Inside Trump's Head," after the House Oversight Committee released a boatload of emails shedding new light on the president's relationship with the late pedophile Wednesday morning.

The 23,000 emails show, in part, how Epstein and Wolff tried to craft a response that would not fully disclose the relationship between Epstein and Trump in 2015, while Trump was running for his first term as president. Another email Epstein wrote in 2011 to his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell references Trump spending hours at Epstein's house with one of Epstein's victims, later identified as Virginia Giuffre. Trump was not a party to any of the emails, so he never responded.

Mavericks fans couldn't wait for Nico Harrison to get kicked to the curb after he traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers ... but NBA champ Kendrick Perkins still believes both sides won the infamous deal -- telling TMZ Sports we'll find out if/when Dallas gets healthy!!

Harrison was handed his pink slip on Tuesday ... an inevitable move nine months after the franchise player was shipped to L.A. in exchange for Anthony Davis.

At the time, Perk said he loved the transaction for both sides ... but Mavs backers weren't buying it -- and wanted Harrison gone ASAP.

Rev. Jesse Jackson has been hospitalized as he continues to manage a serious neurodegenerative condition ... the Rainbow PUSH Coalition announced Wednesday.

According to the organization, Jackson was admitted to the hospital and is currently under medical observation for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a disorder he has been battling for roughly ten years.

"The family appreciates all prayers at this time," the coalition said in a statement.

Jackson was first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but his PSP diagnosis was confirmed in April, the group added.

Will Ferrell is taking a brief breather from his new Netflix golf comedy ... 'cause a minor injury has put him on the sidelines ... TMZ has learned.

Production sources tell TMZ ... the actor recently suffered an injury off set, and while it wasn't serious, it was enough to keep him from filming scenes scheduled this week at the Bicycle Casino just outside Los Angeles.

It's unclear exactly how or where Will got hurt, but we're told the issue made it impossible for him to shoot the planned material safely or comfortably this week. Producers have temporarily rearranged the schedule while he recovers.

Blake Lively has evened the score this week in her never-ending drama with Justin Baldoni ... a defamation lawsuit filed against her by a crisis PR firm has just been thrown out of court for jurisdictional reasons.

Here's the deal ... Jed Wallace and his company, Street Relations Inc., filed suit against Blake in February 2025 after she named both parties, along with Baldoni, in her December 2024 California civil rights complaint for bad behavior related to the filming of "It Ends With Us."

The lawsuit was filed in Texas ... but, according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, it was dismissed due to a lack of personal jurisdiction. Translation: the judge ruled Wallace didn't establish that the Texas court had the power to deal with the case.

8:12 PM PT -- President Donald Trump late Wednesday signed a bill to reopen the federal government, officially bringing an end to the bruising 43 day shutdown ... the longest the country has ever seen.

The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history is about to come to an end.

After GOP leaders presented a federal funding bill Wednesday, the measure has now been passed by the legislative branch and now it just needs to be signed by President Donald Trump, effectively reopening the government.

Trump is likely to sign off within the hour.

The full extent of the damage caused by the shutdown is difficult to measure, but this deal comes after millions of Americans reportedly missed food assistance benefits, and many federal employees missed out on paychecks, whether they were working or not.

Disclosure may finally be coming when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein ... the House will vote next week on a resolution demanding the Dept. of Justice release the Epstein Files.

Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday he would put the bill on the floor for a full vote.

The bill is from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna ... and on Wednesday, they got the required 218 signatures needed to force a vote.

Reneé Rapp has the Internet in a frenzy after a TikTok video sent fans thinking she quietly got engaged to her girlfriend ... but TMZ did some digging and got to the bottom of it.

Here's the deal ... social media detectives went into overdrive when Reneé flashed what looked like a sparkler on that finger in a recent TikTok, and within minutes engagement rumors were trending with fans convinced Towa Bird popped the question.

However, sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Reneé is not engaged. We're told it's simply one of the rings she regularly wears on that finger.

Ozzy Osbourne’s death stunned the world ... and even Donald Trump felt the shockwaves so deeply he actually reached out to the late rocker’s grieving family to offer his condolences.

Jack Osbourne spilled the tea on the latest episode of "The Osbournes Podcast" with mom Sharon and sister Kelly ... playing Trump’s voicemail, where he’s heard saying he’d met Ozzy a few times and just wanted to say how talented and unique the rock legend was.

Donald added, "I just wanted to wish you the best and it’s a tough thing. I know how close you were and whatever I can do. Take care of yourself. Say hello to the family. Thanks, bye."

Cleto Escobedo III had one of those careers not too many people get to enjoy -- because he worked alongside one of his childhood friends, Jimmy Kimmel, for many years.

However, the musician's stint as the late-night show host's bandleader came to an abrupt end in 2025 when he unexpectedly died.

We're going to take a look back at the saxophone player's history with Kimmel and see how his career in showbiz played out.

Escobedo was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His father was a saxophone player who worked at Caesar's Palace as a busboy.

Escobedo and Kimmel -- who moved with his parents from Brooklyn, New York, to Las Vegas at an early age -- met when the comedian's family settled across the street from his future bandleader.

The pair grew incredibly close over the years, and Kimmel described their close connection as a "lifetime of friendship."

The musician started playing saxophone at an early age, and he later attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, although he ended up focusing on his musical career, according to The New York Times.

Escobedo started his career by playing gigs at various venues on the Las Vegas Strip before he was asked to join Paula Abdul's touring band in 1990.

He eventually landed a record deal with Virgin Records, and he also toured with artists like Marc Anthony and Luis Miguel.

Escobedo was touring with Anthony when Kimmel asked him to serve as his band leader, and the comedian had to take ABC's higher-ups to see his childhood friend play live to convince them of his musical chops.

Escobedo served as Kimmel's band leader for over two decades, and he invited his father to join his band.

Kimmel announced Escobedo's death in a post on his Instagram account in November 2025.

Details about the exact cause of the saxophone player's death were not immediately released.

Kimmel paid a lengthy tribute to Escobedo during his show on November 11th, and he became visibly emotional.

Jason Williams thinks he knows why Klay Thompson is strugglin' on the basketball court this season -- MEG THEE STALLION!

That's what the former NBA star said on the "Hoopin’ N Hollerin'" podcast on Wednesday, just a week after the Dallas Mavericks announced they were benching the four-time NBA champion, who is averaging just 7.4 points per game, while shooting 26.7% from the three.

The podcast crew, including Patrick Beverly, mentioned Thompson's new relationship with Meg, one of the hottest stars in all of music ... when Williams, a 12-year NBA vet, chimed in.

Jen Affleck -- 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star and recent "Dancing with the Stars" contestant -- is sharing her thoughts on costar Whitney Leavitt's performance in the competition, telling us her money is actually on hunky wildlife expert Robert Irwin.

We caught up with the cast of Hulu’s hit show as they gear up for a fiery Season 3 -- and when asked if Whitney could take the crown, all eyes were on Jen ... who reveals to us that even though Whitney is the best dancer on the show, she chooses to root for Robert.

Jen unfortunately got booted from this season -- sparking some beef with remaining 'SLOMW' contestant Whitney -- so her choosing the Australian sweetheart rather than her own costar remains on brand.

Representative Lauren Boebert is one of four Republicans demanding the Dept. of Justice release the Epstein Files ... and it's apparently ruffled a few feathers with the higher-ups in Donald Trump's administration.

The Colorado Congresswoman met with Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche at the White House Wednesday morning, according to ABC News.

The meeting was reportedly organized in an effort to convince Boebert to remove her name from a House of Representatives discharge petition pushing for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who killed himself in jail in 2019.

Boebert's one of just four House Republicans who've signed the petition -- which has the full support of House Democrats -- the others are Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, and Nancy Mace.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Hill the Boebert meeting was set up to ensure transparency between the Trump administration and Congress.

It took 232 years, but the penny is dead ... the last ever penny was minted Wednesday in Philadelphia.

President Trump started the penny's doomsday clock back in February, when he ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop producing new pennies.

The clock ran out today when the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia produced the final pennies to go into circulation ... the 1-cent coins had been minted there since 1793, the year after Congress passed the Coinage Act.

Kris Jenner doesn't seem to be slowing down after turning 70 ... in fact, it looks like she's moving full speed ahead with plans for a new beauty line.

In a new trademark filing -- obtained by TMZ -- Kris' company Jenner Communications Inc. has filed to lock down rights to the mark "Queen By Kris Jenner."

It seems like the momager has big plans for the line ... as the trademark covers a wide range of beauty products like perfumes, lotions, body oils, beauty masks, and much more.

Boosie Badazz will be facing a judge later this month when he's sentenced in California for gun possession ... but he's still making the most out of his November with a birthday album release with NBA YoungBoy!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Boosie today at Amy Ruth's chicken and waffles hut in Harlem, and we took a few minutes to remember Alaicha Johnson -- the young fan whose funeral Boosie performed at in October, after being contacted by her family.

Alaicha abruptly died from cancer and didn't get to see Boosie when he popped up in Detroit ... but the Louisiana rap star tells us fulfilling her last wish was his honor!!!