During a heated exchange on CNN’s State of the Union, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R‑OK) pushed a false claim that the Obama administration was responsible for a “sweetheart” plea deal with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2009. Mullin insisted, “there was a plea deal that was struck in 2009, … way before [President Donald] Trump was even considering to be in office … 2009, there was a sweetheart plea deal that was made underneath the Obama administration with Epstein,” and added, “And that sweetheart has not been exposed.” Host Jake Tapper immediately corrected him: “It was 2008,” noting that “The U.S. attorney at the time was a guy named Alex Acosta. He was a Bush appointee. He went on to become President Trump’s secretary of labor. It all took place in 2008.” Acosta, then U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, negotiated the plea deal under the Bush‑era Justice Department in 2008 —well before Barack Obama took office. READ MORE: 'Guess where the money came from?' Outrage sparked as cost of 'free' Air Force One is revealed Despite Tapper’s fact‑based correction, Mullin doubled down: “Who was in office at the time?” he asked. Tapper answered again: “George W. Bush.” Undeterred, Mullin countered: “No, 2009 is when the case came out … And Obama was in office at the time.” Tapper simply responded: “It’s not true.” Tapper attempted to continue the conversation, but Mullin reverted to his prior assertion, repeating, “The case was sealed in 2009 … It was heard in 2008. It was sealed 2009.” In reality, the plea deal was publicly disclosed — unsealed — in 2009, revealing the terms of a lenient agreement made in 2008. Before wrapping the segment, Tapper reiterated the timeline: “The point is that the sweetheart deal, which was completed in 2008, was under the Bush administration — U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta.” Watch the video below or at this link. - YouTube www.youtube.com

State elections officials say the U.S. Department of Justice doesn’t have a legal right to the state’s voter registration list.

Listing advertises US$25 an hour for up to 60 hours per week, with flights, meals and accommodation included.

A Russian drone targeting a bus reportedly killed three and injured 20 in Sumy Oblast on July 27, according to local media.

A House subcommittee has voted to subpoena the Department of Justice for files in the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.