All articles tagged with #underage
The U.S. Justice Department released more FBI records related to Jeffrey Epstein, including 2019 interviews in which a woman alleged Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump and that Trump assaulted her when she was 13–15. Trump denies the allegations, and the DOJ notes some released materials contain untrue or sensational claims; the documents were previously mislabelled as duplicative and withheld under earlier releases.
Crystal Hefner and attorney Gloria Allred allege the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation holds thousands of personal scrapbooks and diaries with nude images and intimate sexual details — potentially including images of underage girls — and they've filed complaints with California and Illinois attorneys general to block any distribution. Allred claims the material could be digitized or leaked, while Crystal says she was fired after raising concerns; the foundation has not commented publicly. This is presented as a civil rights concern about women’s bodies not being treated as collectibles.
Vice President JD Vance faced blowback after praising Kid Rock for a Turning Point USA halftime show when observers highlighted lyrics from Kid Rock’s 1997 song about underage girls. The incident addS fuel to tensions between Vance and Trump amid new Epstein-file revelations, with Vance defending investigations and Trump pushing to move on from the saga.
Jared Leto is accused by nine women, including some underage, of inappropriate behavior and misconduct, which he denies, stating all communications were appropriate.
A trial date has been set for a 2023 rape lawsuit against director Roman Polanski, with the plaintiff alleging that he raped her in 1973 when she was underage. The trial is scheduled for August 2025, and the plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, filed the lawsuit under a California law that extends the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. Polanski's attorneys have denied the claim, and while the director, now 90, is facing a defamation trial in Paris, he is not expected to attend the civil trial in person.
Florida gymnastics coach Oscar Olea, 38, has been arrested and charged with two counts of sex crimes with minors over 12 but under 18 while under familial or custodial care, after being accused of having sexual relations with two underage students he coached around 2011. Each charge comes with a $25,000 bond, and he was scheduled to be arraigned in Miami-Dade court.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified 15-year-old Syere Littlefield as the suspect shot by officers at Six Flags after an exchange of gunfire, leaving him critically injured. Littlefield will be charged, and a handgun was recovered near him. The incident occurred during a series of fights involving 500-600 young teens outside the park, with multiple suspects firing at officers as teens ran into the woods. No officers were injured, and Six Flags emphasized their commitment to safety and security following the incident.
A mother and son from Idaho have been charged with second-degree kidnapping for allegedly taking an underage girl across state lines to Oregon for an abortion without her parents' knowledge. The girl had been living with the Swainstons and was in a consensual sexual relationship with the son since she was 15. She became pregnant, but the son threatened to end the relationship if she gave birth. The mother arranged for the abortion, and cellphone data confirmed their trip to Oregon. The Swainstons have not been charged under Idaho's "abortion trafficking" statute, but their case is being seen as a test case for the controversial law. The son is also facing rape and child exploitation charges, while the mother is facing drug charges.
An unnamed BBC presenter is facing allegations by the Sun newspaper that he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photos. The star was accused of paying £35,000 over a three-year period, starting when the young person was 17. The family reported the alleged payments to the BBC, expressing concern for their child's safety due to a crack cocaine habit funded by the presenter. The BBC has stated that it takes all allegations seriously and has processes in place to deal with them. Questions have been raised about the BBC's handling of the situation, and there are calls for a full and transparent investigation.
A 12-year-old girl is in critical condition after accidentally shooting herself in the head with a 9mm handgun at an apartment complex in Nashville. Five minors, including the girl, were present during the incident, and a 15-year-old has been taken into custody for bringing the gun to the residence. The police are urging gun safety and treating every gun as if it is loaded. The investigation is ongoing.
E-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs has agreed to pay a $462m settlement, the largest multistate settlement, for its "central role in the youth vaping epidemic." The settlement includes stringent restrictions on the company's marketing and sales to prevent minors from vaping. Juul's decision to target underage students was widespread, according to attorneys general. The funds acquired in the settlement will be aimed at education to lessen the effect of Juul's vaping in the next generation.
Juul will pay $462 million to settle claims by six states and Washington D.C. that the vaping company marketed its addictive e-cigarettes to underage teens. The agreement is the largest multi-state settlement the company has reached to date, and it means Juul has now settled in suits with 45 states for more than $1 billion. The deal will impose strict limits on Juul's sales and marketing abilities, and will force Juul to secure its products behind retail store counters and verify the age of purchasers.