Virginia
Virginia Giuffre’s brother pens furious letter as Ghislaine Maxwell seeks clemency
Virginia Giuffre’s brother has penned a furious open letter to Ghislaine Maxwell as she refuses to testify over her links to pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.
The disgraced socialite declined to answer questions from a congressional committee on Monday, vowing to only speak out if she is granted clemency by President Trump.
Sky Roberts, whose sister became the poster child for survivors of Epstein and who tragically ended her own life last year, railed against Maxwell in a letter that was delivered to the committee and also shared on social media.
“Ghislaine Maxwell, you were not a bystander,” Roberts wrote. “You were not ‘misled’. You were a central, deliberate actor in a system built to find children, isolate them, groom them, and deliver them to abuse.
“You used trust as a weapon. You targeted vulnerability and turned it into access. That is not a mistake. That is not poor judgment. That is predation.”
In his letter, Roberts drew attention to his sister’s description of Maxwell.
“Ghislaine was a monster; she was often more vicious and cruel than Epstein. Put it this way: Epstein was Pinocchio, and she was Gepetto. She was the guy controlling,” Giuffre wrote in her memoir, Nobody’s Girl, which was published after her death.
Roberts slammed Maxwell for the part she played in building a “template of exploitation” that was used to abuse young girls.
“The suffering was not incidental to what you did. It was the point. It was your reward for a sadistic system you helped create.”
Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Epstein, is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking, and invoked her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent during a House Oversight Committee deposition Monday morning.
David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, said he advised his client to remain silent given her ongoing appeal to her 2021 conviction, but said she was “prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump.”
Maxwell remained silent when faced with questions about her knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities, but told lawmakers that both President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton were innocent of wrongdoing.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, who subpoenaed Maxwell, said he was “disappointed” in her deposition. Comer told The Independent the committee considered giving her immunity, but ultimately decided against it after speaking with survivors.
“This was something new today, obviously that’s not for me to decide, that’s for the president to decide,” Comer said.
While the president has acknowledged his ability to pardon Maxwell, he has not expressed an interest in doing so.
Roberts said in his letter that forgiveness was “neither owed, nor offered” to Maxwell, and he urged Congress to continue investigating why she had been moved to a minimum-security prison after an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
He ended with another direct quote from Giuffre, in which she addressed her tormenter directly:
“Ghislaine, you deserve to spend the rest of your life in a jail cell,” Giuffre wrote before her death. “Trapped in a cage forever just like you trapped your victims.”
Maxwell’s deposition followed the Justice Department’s release of three million pages of documents related to the government’s Epstein files.
Many of the documents are emails between Epstein, Maxwell, and third parties, and it is widely believed that Maxwell could shed more light on those involved.
RICHMOND, Va. — Jerrod Buford first picked up a paintbrush as a kid, never imagining that same creative outlet would carry him through his darkest days in prison.
Buford, who grew up in Williamsburg, was convicted and arrested as a young man and spent almost a decade behind bars. During that time, he struggled deeply.
“Turning to drugs and alcohol to kind of shadow over emotions,” Buford said. “Looking for acceptance, approval. Not just from my parents, but from friends, from, you name it. I mean, I tried to commit suicide, I don’t even know how many times,” Buford said.
WTVR
It was inside prison walls that art became more than a hobby.
“Throughout my prison time, I learned, the freedom that I desired, I’ve always had it. I got, I found it, in a box,” Buford said.
More than three years after his release, Buford continues to advocate for art as a tool for healing. He describes his work as a gift he feels called to share.
“I received a blessing from God that just allowed me to display what he’s given me,” Buford said.
For Buford, creating art is also a way of processing his past.
“That’s what art has done for me. It’s given me the ability to look at parts of my life, all parts of my life, and find the good and the negative, learn from the negative,” Buford said.
He shares his story and artwork with a wide audience through social media, including live sessions on TikTok, and holds art classes with new communities.
The Story Cafe
Buford said his mission is to help others find their own path toward healing — whatever form that takes.
“What I strive to do is guide this person to just create, man. Don’t care what people think about your creation, you just need to get it out,” Buford said. “Whether it’s with art, addressing your mental health, getting your life right — just do it.”
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Lovingston, VA (7News) — Good Morning Washington interviews Amanda Beckwith of Virginia Distillery Company- one of the contributing distilleries to the Virginia Spirits Board’s 250th Celebration Trio Pack, a special, exclusive release created to commemorate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. This limited-edition package features a curated collection of a rum, a gin, and a whiskey, all crafted from scratch by distillers in Virginia to celebrate the rich history and current state of distilling within the Commonwealth.
Beckwith elaborates on VA Distillery Company’s role in the project, noting her focus on Virginia-grown grain to make the bottle of unique whiskey that is included in the Trio Pack. It is also worth noting that the Trio Packs themselves were bottled and produced right here at Virginia Distilling Company!
American single malts are the newest official category of American whiskey, distilled from one grain and from a single distillery. Virginia Distillery Co specializes in this new category of whiskey and crafted their contribution to the Trio Pack with this very specialty. Given the limited remaining availability of the Trio Pack, its historical value and collectible nature, the message it loud and clear encouraging viewers to grab a pack before they are all gone!
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21+ Please drink responsibly, this content is sponsored by Virginia Distillery Company.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 24, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
13-14-16-21-38, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Pick 3
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 3-1-5, FB: 8
Day: 7-8-8, FB: 4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 4-7-2-1, FB: 7
Day: 7-3-4-6, FB: 3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 7-5-2-6-9, FB: 0
Day: 6-9-4-0-7, FB: 0
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash Pop
Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.
Coffee Break: 12
After Hours: 08
Prime Time: 13
Rush Hour: 01
Lunch Break: 14
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash 5
Drawing every day at 11 p.m.
09-12-15-24-43
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Bank a Million
Bank a Million draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
18-21-25-33-36-39, Bonus: 13
Check Bank a Million payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.
03-04-10-36-37, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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