Legal

Former Republican senator Ben Sasse publicly revealed he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer last week in a lengthy message posted on X Tuesday morning.

Sasse didn't mince words while talking about the diagnosis ... describing it as a "death sentence," and adding he is "gonna die." The cancer has metastasized, already spreading to other parts of his body.

Sasse acknowledged he has "less time than I’d prefer" and admitted he is concerned about the future well-being of his family.

He added he wouldn't be "going down without a fight" and pointed to the advances in research into cancer treatment over the past few years as a sign of hope in his situation.

Sasse said his family has embraced "gallows humor" about the whole situation and wrote he'd have more to say about his health in the future.

Sasse's note was met with support from many of his former colleagues, as well as Vice President JD Vance, who replied he's "very sorry" to hear about the former senator's diagnosis.

10:27 AM PT -- A rep for Kevin Spacey tells TMZ ... “The 2002 trip to Africa with President Clinton to support AIDS causes and meet Nelson Mandela remains a genuine highlight in Kevin’s life. The fact that the plane was owned by Jeffrey Epstein is immaterial considering it was three years before Epstein was ever investigated. Whatever wrongdoing may have been taking place in the background has nothing to do with Kevin, any more than a hotel guest is responsible for actions occurring in a neighboring room. Kevin never saw or spoke to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell ever again.”

Kevin Spacey -- who vehemently called for the release of the Epstein Files this summer -- has been included in the trove of pics just released today.

In the image released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... the "American Beauty" star leans on the back of a chair alongside Bill Clinton, appearing to be in mid-conversation. They're standing in a room before a conference table littered with pads and writing utensils, suggesting they're preparing for a meeting of some sort.

According to CNN, the pic was taken inside the Cabinet Room of the Churchill War Rooms -- which is an underground bunker in London.

Clinton reportedly took Epstein's private jet on a humanitarian trip to Africa with Spacey in 2002.

The "60 Minutes" segment reporting on El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison -- that was abruptly abruptly pulled from the program hours before it was set to air in the United States Sunday night -- was aired in full in Canada, and later became available on a Canadian streaming service.

The segment, titled "Inside CECOT," investigates the brutal treatment of Venezuelans who were deported from the U.S. and sent to CECOT.

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss yanked the segment and promotional materials were scrubbed online. She said in a statement to CBS employees Sunday the segment wasn't ready for air -- even though it had been vetted and legally reviewed and was cleared by the network on Friday night -- and said the show's producers needed to get on-the-record statements from the White House, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department, and if possible, televised interviews.

The segment was included with the rest of the episode in its original version released on Global TV's streaming service, and it was available as of Monday evening, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The original program had shipped Friday night to international media partners ... before it was pulled on Sunday from American air.

Viewers have reportedly been taking videos of the segment and posting them on platforms like YouTube and X in the hours since it was made available on streaming. CBS took steps to have the program removed from YouTube and elsewhere, but the content has spread wide.

Donald Trump flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet at least eight times ... according to an internal DOJ email written by an assistant U.S. attorney in January 2020.

The email -- which dropped in a new batch of Epstein docs Monday night -- says Trump was listed as a passenger on flights between 1993 and 1996, including at least four trips where Ghislaine Maxwell was also onboard.

One 1993 flight listed Trump and Epstein as the only passengers ... and another flight included just Epstein, Trump, and an unidentified person who was 20 years old at the time, according to the email. Marla Maples, Tiffany Trump and Eric Trump are also listed as passengers.

Kyle Chrisley, the son of "Chrisley Knows Best" stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, punched three cops and threatened to kill the officers ... at least according to the police who arrested him in Tennessee.

TMZ obtained the affidavit from Kyle's Saturday arrest in Rutherford County, and cops say they got a call from Kyle's wife, who told dispatchers he was making suicidal and homicidal threats.

Police say when they arrived, Kyle walked away from them and refused their commands ... and they say he eventually turned around and got aggressive and combative with them.

Longtime character actress Helen Siff, who filled small roles in dozens of films and shows throughout her multi-decade career, has died.

The performer's Thursday, Dec. 18 death was announced by her family, who told The Hollywood Reporter she'd died from complications from a surgery for a "long, painful illness."

Siff was born in Woodmere, New York, in 1937, and she began acting professionally nearly 40 years later, when she appeared in a commercial for Subaru in 1976.

She went on to play small roles in numerous films throughout the 1980s, including "The Karate Kid" and "Big Top Pee-Wee."

Siff continued well into the 2000s, filling parts in movies like "Hail, Caesar!" and "You Don't Mess With The Zohan."

Siff also appeared in scores of television shows, including "Will & Grace," "Modern Family," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm," as well as various stage productions.

Her family said she had the ability to make "even the smallest part memorable." She's survived by two sisters, five of her children, and seven grandchildren.

Siff was 88.

One of the men convicted in the 2002 killing of RUN-DMC's DJ, Jam Master Jay, just had his murder conviction overturned last week -- a big surprise for Darryl McDaniels!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the legendary DMC walking our way in New York City on Monday, and he didn't even let us finish our sentence ... he had just heard the news!!!

On Friday, a U.S. District Judge granted Karl Jordan Jr. an acquittal on the murder charges handed down in Feb. 2024, citing an overall lack of evidence.

Tory Lanez revealed in his first interview from prison last week that he had new evidence favorable to his appeal after his conviction for shooting Megan The Stallion, and it turns out, the rapper wasn't BS-ing, and he's now going after the former Los Angeles D.A. ... TMZ has learned.

Here's the deal ... Tory's team submitted an official report to the court with testimony from a software expert who reviewed Megan's medical records after Meg was shot by Tory that fateful night in 2020.

After the review, the expert signed the report claiming there were 60 fraudulent errors in the medical findings presented at Tory's 2022 trial by then-L.A. County District Attorney, George Gascon. As you know, Tory was convicted of shooting Megan and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Tory, though, has always maintained his innocence.

CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss is defending her decision to kill a "60 Minutes" segment hours before its scheduled air time Sunday night ... the report focused on the treatment of Venezuelan deportees from the United States to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison.

The long-running news program was set to run the segment Sunday night, but pulled it hours before airing, and promos online were scrubbed. On an editorial call on Monday, Weiss said the segment "was not ready" to air, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Weiss added the show's producers needed to get on-the-record statements from the the White House, the Dept. of Homeland Security and the State Dept. for it to be ready to go on air. She said ... “While the story presented powerful testimony of torture at CECOT, it did not advance the ball."

"60 Minutes" Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reported the completed segment, and she blasted Weiss' decision in an internal company email Sunday. Alfonsi noted the segment had undergone fact-checking and legal review, was determined to be factually accurate ... and she described Weiss' choice as "political."

She wrote in her memo the show's producers had requested comment from the Trump administration, which didn't respond to inquiries. Alfonsi said their refusal to comment had resulted in a de-facto “veto” of the story.

Chris Rea, who maintained a multi-decade career as a singer and songwriter, has died.

A spokesperson for the performer's family told BBC News he died Monday in a hospital after a "short illness." His family -- including his wife Joan and daughters Josephine and Julia -- was at his side when he died.

Rea was born in Middlesbrough, England, in 1951, one of seven children raised by an Irish mother and an Italian father who owned an ice cream factory and cafes.

He began his musical career at an early age, and he joined several bands before his first single, "So Much Love," debuted in 1974. He released his debut album, "Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?", four years later.

Rea's first major hit, "Fool (If You Think It’s Over)," was released the same year, and it ended up reaching the number 12 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rea received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist the following year.

Rea released several albums throughout the 1980s, and his most enduring hit, "Driving Home for Christmas," debuted in 1986.

The musician was also a noted fan of motorsports and took part in the 1993 British Touring Car Championship, reports The Guardian.

Rea was 74 years old.

JD Vance has dealt with lots of harsh comments regarding his relationship with his wife Usha in the past, and he's got two words for the people saying them -- "Eat s***."

In an interview with UnHerd, the Vice President said his directive applies to "anyone who attacks my wife" ... and specifically name-dropped Nick Fuentes and Jen Psaki, both of whom have spoken about his marriage in the past.

FYI ... Fuentes previously referred to Vance as a "race traitor," reports The Hill, for marrying Usha, who was born to Indian immigrant parents.

Psaki shared her own views on Vance's marriage during an appearance on the "I've Had It" podcast in October, telling Usha to "blink four times" if she ever felt as if she was in distress.

Vance condemned all forms of racism within conservative politics in his interview with UnHerd, and described racism as "disgusting."

He said his stance on critics of his marriage is his "official policy" as the country's second-in-command ... no budging there.

Like it or not, the Christmas magic really does come for us all ... including rockers like Marilyn Manson!

We caught up with the singer while he was heading through LAX and asked for his opinions about the holiday season ... turns out he likes Christmas just as much as the next guy!

12:56 PM PT -- At least 16 files originally included in the Justice Department’s Epstein Files drop have gone MIA, according to AP. This reportedly includes pictures that show a painting depicting nude women and a photograph of Trump.

Internet sleuths caught on to the allegedly vanished pic of Trump earlier Saturday, and the White House has not yet returned our request for comment.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are questioning Attorney General Pam Bondi after they say a photo of Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein has been removed from the DOJ's recently released Epstein Files.

Here's the deal ... the Department of Justice released more photos to the "Epstein Library" -- though internet sleuths were quick to point out a numbering irregularity in the file.

The file jumps from "EFTA00000467” to “EFTA00000469" ... and, House Oversight Dems took to X to claim “EFTA00000468" was removed -- sharing the alleged photo which, they point out, seemingly has a picture of President Trump in it.

There are plenty of familiar faces in the newly released Epstein Files drop ... including some big-name musicians and entertainers like Mick Jagger and comedian Chris Tucker.

Check out our gallery -- you'll see The Rolling Stones frontman dining with Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Clinton and Ghislaine Maxwell at a circular table full of small dishes and drinks. The group appears to be in great spirits as they chat and laugh amongst themselves. Mick also stands up to pose with the former president, as well as a woman whose face was redacted.

And then there's the intriguing snap of magician and illusionist David Copperfield hugging Maxwell as they're both wearing white robes ... and showing off some candy in another.

The convicted pedo's former girlfriend and associate is also seen smiling next to comedian Chris Tucker in front of the window of a plane in a pic included in the drop. Chris sits next to someone who appears to be Clinton at a dinner in an additional photo.

LAPD searched the hotel room where Nick Reiner checked in around the time his parents were murdered, and TMZ has been told the police did not have a search warrant.

Harvey explains during the latest episode of the "2 Angry Men" podcast what happened at around 1 AM Monday ... when an LAPD detective showed up at the Pierside Santa Monica hotel.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the detective told the front desk clerk he was looking for a guest named Nick Reiner. The detective told the clerk he was there for a "welfare check." But he also told the clerk he was concerned Reiner "disposed of a weapon and used the room to clean and dispose of evidence in a violent crime."

Luigi Mangione says he now knows the real reason why Attorney General Pam Bondi is seeking the death penalty against him ... she allegedly has deep ties to the murder victim's health care company.

Mangione's defense attorneys filed court docs Friday night outlining their new claims against Bondi to get the death penalty tossed from the federal case. Federal prosecutors charged Mangione with stalking and murder through use of firearm in connection with the 2024 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson.

Bondi then issued a statement directing prosecutors to seek the death penalty. State prosecutors have also charged Mangione with murder and possession of a weapon in a separate case.

In the latest defense filing, Luigi's lawyers claim Bondi was a partner at the lobbying firm Ballard Partners before she became attorney general, and the company lists UnitedHealth Group (UHG) as a client.

As a result, Bondi derives and continues to receive personal and financial benefits from Ballard "in the form of a profit-sharing plan from Ballard's professional association with UHG," according to the court docs.