Four years earlier in Florida, Epstein had been sent to prison for two charges of soliciting prostitution – including one with a minor.
Andriesz suspected there was yet more to find in the Epstein files that could back up his claims – if only people knew where to look in the 3.5 million pages of documents.
“Everyone was searching ‘Lutnick’,” he says. He knew, though, that Cantor Fitzgerald executives preferred to use initials rather than full names in their emails.
Andriesz searched for “HWL” (Howard William Lutnick) and found emails sent to and from Epstein in 2018. Epstein had talked directly to Lutnick about a digital advertising company called Adfin, in which he and Lutnick’s firm, Cantor Fitzgerald, had both invested.
Andriesz spotted correspondence, external where Epstein had directly asked the HWL account: “what do you think the prospects for adfin are?”
Lutnick responded: “Producing revenue finally. This is their year. Next 12 months they need to become economically self-sufficient.”
Andriesz then shared this information with US politicians on the House Oversight Committee, the US Congress’s main investigatory committee.
Lutnick agreed to appear before the committee in an off-camera hearing in May.
He has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and he told the committee: “I unequivocally condemn the conduct attributed to Jeffrey Epstein and everyone who participated in his illegal activities. The survivors of his crimes deserve our respect and support.”
It’s a new theme: a World Cup sleepover. And that is exactly what my daughter Lola, 10, and a couple of her friends were demanding on Saturday night for the unbelievably tense England v Norway match.
The thought of my open plan living room/kitchen being destroyed and turned into a children’s chill-out space with blow-up mattresses and empty Haribo packets is always something I can do without, however much I like the idea of them cheering on England – which, let’s face it, is a novelty.
So when her friend Balthazar’s mum offered to hold it at her house down the road in west London with Lola and her best friend, I was over the moon – and ended up watching the match with them. As they sat on the sofa, and ate brioche that another mum had packed them as snacks, I stood by the TV gripped unable to leave with my car keys in my hand. My other daughter Liberty, seven, was also cheering on England but in Earls Court at her best friend’s house.
Lola and Balthazar react as England knock Norway out of the World Cup (Charlotte Cripps)
Nothing beats that feeling of excitement – preceding triumph or heartbreak when you are united in solidarity – and my children have never experienced that communal bonding other than at sports day competing against their school houses: Paddington, Phoenix, Lovelace and Shakespeare.
This was different: it was supporting England on a global stage. Every pub we drove past on our way to the sleepover had bunting and St George’s flags up. This is a summer of love for England and it was rubbing off on my children like they were being spurted out of a propaganda machine.
I wasn’t really sure about how I felt. The truth is, of course, I’m happy we’re all experiencing the solidarity of supporting England, but I can’t pretend this sudden outpouring of love for our country is also glossing over uncomfortable truths about the real state of the UK. And it’s also provoking some pretty uncomfortable other behaviours too.
While the football is a rare, unifying communal celebration giving a sense of identity, belonging, and culture, I couldn’t help wincing when my children insulted Norway and started calling them “idiots”. Then, as soon as Jude Bellingham scored that first goal – my children may as well have been singing “Rule Britannia!” or “Land of Hope and Glory” with their hands on their hearts for their love of their country.
So what if my children were waving England fags out of the car windows on their way to school? The only time we see these flags is at terrifying far-right Tommy Robinson marches
When Bellingham scored his second goal, they ran around screaming: “England is the best!” and “I love England!” It was odd. I’d never seen Lola patriotic before – and while I felt happy they were feeling so joyous about this team of brilliant young men, I don’t know if I can now put an England flag in the window or wave England flags out of the car on our way to school, as I am being begged to do,
On the upside, this new enthusiasm for flag-waving is no bad thing. It is reclaiming it from Reform UK and racists, who have despicably used the St George’s flag and Union Jack as symbols of national pride and shared British identity while dividing the country over racial lines. Until recently, the only time my daughters have ever seen the England flag out in full force is at terrifying far-right Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” marches, draped over men and women wearing red “Make England Great Again” hats.
I’d only really experienced patriotism from my late father, who had lived through the Second World War – and my children had been too young to take in his stories about air raid shelters before he died in 2024. When I asked Lola, what England means to her, she looked a bit confused and then said: “It’s a big place – and I love it. We beat Norway.”
England and their star players are giving people a reason to feel patriotic (PA)
Of course, there was a lot of joyous flag-waving of William and Kate’s royal wedding in 2011 and the 2012 Olympic Games the year after that. Then it felt like the whole country was united over a national event and there was true pride in how we could put on a show. But a decade on since Brexit, this feeling has soured somewhat. Flag waving has been something to be embarrassed about, and even King Charles’s coronation in 2023 felt more like a pious occasion than one to get the bunting out for.
For the past few years, the surge of flags being hoisted up all over the UK are seen as contributing to fear and division in communities, rather than a unifying force. This whiff of something darker hasn’t stopped during the World Cup and Oxfordshire County Council has just gained a permanent injunction to stop the flying of flags from lamposts.
On the upside, this new enthusiasm for flag-waving is no bad thing. It is reclaiming it from Reform UK and racists
But in our household, the flags are out in force and I’m okay with that; it feels like we haven’t been able to feel this unashamedly proud and patriotic since that glorious summer of sport of 2012.
Then it inspired a huge surge of civic pride and inclusive patriotism across the UK, with an opening ceremony directed by Danny Boyle – which celebrated all that was great about Britain. Team GB finished third in the medal table with 29 gold medals, which further boosted UK morale.
But 14 years on, the UK feels like a very different future. There is a soaring cost of living and my girls face an uncertain future. Brexit stripped them of freedom of movement by taking away their automatic right to easily live, work, or retire in any of the 27 EU member states. The country feels small and increasingly isolated, more interested in looking backwards to a golden past that never really existed. It’s hard to get on the UK property ladder; there’s job insecurity, student debt, and the threat of AI contributing to the younger generation’s growing anxiety that the future isn’t one to get excited about.
The 2012 Olympics was another time where those from England could get behind the UK in a fit of sporting patriotism (Getty)
According to a new poll, commissioned by the John Smith Centre at Glasgow University, the number of young adults expecting their lives to be better than their parents’ had nearly halved in a year, from 63 per cent to just 36 per cent.
Maybe this explains the renewed flag fervour we are seeing today. Not only is it terribly exciting to see England get into the semi-finals, but there is a human desire to find a pocket of joy in these straitened times. Traditional British patriotism is a plaster over a wound, covering up our problems, but, complicated feelings aside, it has been a balm to see my children so happy about the country they live in.
I’m glad the flags are out in their box loads for the World Cup and we are finding some kind of national solidarity, even if it might be business as usual if we don’t win. I have everything crossed that England beat Argentina on Wednesday in the World Cup final. Come on England! We need this more than ever – hope is coming home.
ATLANTA — The FBI and Atlanta Police Department are getting ready for a massive security operation ahead of the World Cup semifinals between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium.
Both agencies have used drones to search for potential threats on the ground and in the sky. The FBI is enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration’s Temporary Flight Restrictions around the venue.
The FBI has confiscated more than 600 drones nationwide since the World Cup began. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office Marlo Graham said 86 of those drones were seized in Atlanta.
Graham said the FBI uses a “mechanism” that allows agents to see unauthorized drones in restricted airspace. Agents then work to mitigate the threat posed by unknown drones.
“We’ve been able to safely land drones that have been unauthorized in the flight restricted area,” Graham said.
The FBI has confiscated more than 600 drones at World Cup events since the tournament started.(FBI Atlanta)
While the FBI treats every drone as a potential threat, Graham said the threat level can increase depending on the size of the drone and how close it gets to the stadium.
“Obviously, the closer to the venue, the larger the crowd. We are fortunate here in Atlanta that we have a closed dome stadium,” Graham said. “We don’t want the game to be impacted because a hobbyist couldn’t control their drone, and it lands right when one of our star players was getting ready to score a goal.”
The Atlanta Police Department’s Drone Unit has helped the FBI track down people suspected of flying in restricted zones.
Sgt. Kindu Franklin said most of the people caught flying drones around World Cup venues are hobbyists with no intent to harm the crowd of soccer fans below.
“In some cases, they just recently bought a drone just for FIFA to get some of the cool footage that they want to put up on their social media,” Franklin said. “There are different ways that you can weaponize these drones. So, we’re operating in a proactive manner.”
The Atlanta Police Department’s drone mission at the World Cup focuses on surveillance. (FOX)
The Atlanta Police Department’s drone mission is focused on surveillance. Officers are looking for potential threats, traffic issues and people the FBI suspects are flying drones illegally.
“So, what we want to do is give our command staff a view that they can’tget from the ground,” Sgt. James Cunningham with APD’s Drone Unit said.
Cunningham’s unit can launch drones remotely from handheld controllers. Other drones are launched from docking stations strategically placed across the city, and officers control them from the back of an SUV using a computer and a PlayStation controller.
The Atlanta Police Department launches some drones from docks strategically placed across the city. They are controlled by a computer and a PlayStation controller. (Fox News)
The drone docks are used year-round to help the police get an aerial view of emergency situations before officers arrive. The computer shows the drone pilot where all the police body cameras and vehicles are in the area, allowing them to communicate better with officers on the ground.
For the World Cup, the drone docks let the department have more eyes in the sky and respond to emergencies faster.
“It’s going to cut down time. We’re going to get there quick. And then you’re going to get an aerial perspective of what you can’t see on the ground,” Cunningham said.
The Atlanta Police Department launches some drones from docks to get more eyes in the sky and respond to emergencies faster. (Fox News)
Cunningham said the drone unit has completed more than 1,400 flights and logged more than 550 flight hours since the beginning of June.
“Some people haven’t even done that in years or haven’t even reached those numbers in the life of their drone unit,” Cunningham said.
“We train for the environment. We live here, so we know what to expect,” Anais Paredes, an APD drone pilot, said.
St. Louis Cardinals budding star Jordan Walker broke the hearts of the Philadelphia Phillies faithful on Monday night, defeating Kyle Schwarber on a walk-off blast to win the 2026 Home Run Derby.
Walker hit 12 home runs in his final round, edging out Schwarber’s 11 in a new format from MLB. With his parents watching, Walker’s final home run hit the left field seats and he celebrated in the only way you do when you win the Home Run Derby to be crowned the league’s best slugger during All-Star weekend.
Once again, MLB introduced a new format to the Home Run Derby, this time giving all eight contestants 20 swings to hit as many home runs as possible. The one caveat: if your final swing results in a home run, you continue swinging until it doesn’t leave the yard.
Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals poses during the All-Star player photoshoot at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, July 13, 2026.(Rob Tringali/MLB Photos)
In this format, players didn’t have to battle a clock or focus on how far they hit balls to enter a bonus round. They could lock in and take their time if need be.
Boston Red Sox star Willson Contreras, who has been paramount in the team’s turnaround this season prior to hitting the All-Star break, set the tone with 13 homers in his 20 swings. But Walker matched him, as they both were the bar to reach to make it to the semifinals.
Kansas City Royals’ Jac Caglianone hit the third deck in right field, but his eight homers weren’t enough to propel him to the next round. And Chicago White Sox new fan favorite Munetaka Murakami hit nine to at least give himself a chance.
But Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero belted 12 home runs following New York Yankees’ Ben Rice seven-homer showing. With three hitters in double digits, the hometown favorites, Schwarber and Bryce Harper, knew they could punch their own tickets to the next round.
Schwarber was first, hitting 10 home runs, which put some pressure on Harper. His Phillies teammate could either hit more than 10 to move on, or fall out himself.
Harper was only able to crush eight homers, leaving Schwarber as the final semifinalist. But he didn’t disappoint.
In the semifinals, 15 swings was now the cutoff, and Schwarber started to find his groove. The left-handed slugger was mashing balls into the stratosphere, bashing nine to set the tone against Contreras. The Red Sox star came close with eight homers, but it wasn’t enough as the Phillies star entered the finals to the delight of the Citizens Bank Park crowd.
Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals competes during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., on July 13, 2026.(Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
In the other matchup, Walker continued his run, edging out Caminero 6-5 to put him in contention for the Home Run Derby trophy.
But once again, Schwarber, using the cheers from his crowd in Philly, was unstoppable. He bashed 11 of his 15 swings over the fence, putting immense pressure on Walker, who took swings second.
Walker was up to the challenge when it was his time to hit, hitting four homers to start things off. But with only seven left, Walker knew he needed to be perfect to reach Schwarber.
With just one swing left and seven homers, Walker had to make a run. The suspense was killer for all watching, as Walker managed to get to 10 home runs.
Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies swings during the semifinals of the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 13, 2026.(Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
As he took a couple pitches, Walker found every stitch of the blast that tied him with Schwarber, as the Phillies-heavy crowd murmured. Then, Walker, patient again, hit a moonshot to left field to ice his victory.
Walker is tied 10th in MLB this season with 22 home runs, while hitting .294 for the Cardinals with 74 RBI.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday announced the creation of a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute officials who leak “sensitive information” to the media.
Hegseth said the Pentagon’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) may request and receive all information, support and records across the department regarding news media leak investigations.
“To combat the dangers that leaks pose, effectively immediately, I have delegated tasking authority to the war department’s office of general counsel, empowering OGC to request and receive all information, records and support across the department concerning media leak investigations,” he said in a video shared on X.
“Leaked information risks lives, these new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force,” Hegseth continued. “The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines, access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law.”
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday announced a joint task force with the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute leakers.(Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
The secretary also thanked Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche for his support, adding that he was “proud that our departments are working together closer than we have ever before.”
Hegseth’s announcement comes just days after the DOJ issued subpoenas to four reporters at The New York Times, attempting to force them to testify before a federal grand jury after the newspaper reported on the security concerns involving the plane gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar that he flew on to Turkey for a recent NATO summit.
The subpoenas were widely criticized by The New York Times, journalists at various news outlets and press freedom groups, arguing that the Trump administration is attempting to intimidate reporters conducting legitimate news-gathering about the government.
The announcement comes just days after the DOJ issued subpoenas to four reporters at The New York Times.(Kevin Wolf/AP)
“The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects,” an attorney for the newspaper, David McCraw, said in a statement.
“Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used,” McCraw added. “This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.”
Since taking over as head of the Pentagon last year, Hegseth has sought to crack down on leaks to the media.
Last year, the department opened investigations into those accused of leaking classified information to the press and threatened to conduct polygraphs to identify leakers.
The secretary thanked Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche for his support.(Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)
Hegseth has also attempted to impose restrictions on reporters covering the Pentagon. He had forced them to sign a pledge stating that they would not solicit any unauthorized material, even if the information was unclassified. Most Pentagon reporters turned in their press badges rather than accept the department’s restrictions on news-gathering.
That policy is facing lawsuits, and a judge last month granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that the department’s requirement that journalists be accompanied by an official chaperone at all times violated the First Amendment in response to a case brought by The New York Times.
President Donald Trump announced Monday he will reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian ports and levy new charges on commercial ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz — a move that unravels the last threads of the preliminary peace deal with Iran while introducing a new and controversial strategy apparently aimed at recouping some costs incurred during the conflict.
“All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform, saying the U.S. would become “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” and that “as a matter of FAIRNESS” would be “reimbursed” 20% the cost of cargo shipped through the strategic waterway in exchange for providing safe passage.
“We guarded the strait for 50 years and never got paid for it,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News on Monday. “We want to be reimbursed for this — for putting our people in danger.”
Ships sail near the Strait of Hormuz off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates at Khor Fakkan, July 13, 2026.
AFP via Getty Images
The return of the naval blockade erases the last remaining concession to Tehran provided under the memorandum of understanding that was signed by the president at the Palace of Versailles amid great fanfare just 26 days ago and comes as both countries appear to be on the edge of returning to full-fledged war following several exchanges of tit-for-tat strikes in recent days.
After diplomatic efforts over the weekend failed to cool rapidly escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the reimposition of the naval blockade was largely expected, as officials and other sources familiar with internal discussions privately conceded that the deal — the product of months of intensive negotiations–was in tatters.
Caught by surprise
However, the president’s announcement on collecting fees from commercial vessels seemed to catch some members of his administration, foreign governments and international organizations by surprise.
The Trump administration has not yet shared any information on how or when it will seek to collect fees from cargo ships crossing the strait, but the statement from U.S. Central Command announcing that the blockade would resume at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday also noted “additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice.”
President Donald Trump speaks at the White House during a showcase for the upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix auto race, July 13, 2026, in Washington.
Aaron Schwartz/EPA/Shutterstock
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, one of Trump’s closest advisers, has been vocally against imposing a toll on the waterway — repeatedly saying it would constitute a clear violation of international law.
“There isn’t a nation on earth that supports having to pay money to go through the straits,” Rubio said during a visit to Bahrain in late June.
In the run-up to agreeing to the memorandum of understanding with Iran, officials say many of Trump’s national security advisers were dubious about Tehran’s willingness to adhere to its terms, but that the president was ultimately motivated by the desire to address the economic turmoil created by Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
When it became clear Iran would not relinquish control of the waterway, the Trump administration’s resolve to keep the deal intact waned, officials familiar with its internal deliberations say.
Covering the cost of the war
The war itself has also come with a hefty price tag for the U.S. Estimates on the total cost vary, but in late June, the White House submitted a request for more than $67 billion in emergency defense funding to cover expenses associated with the conflict.
The president has publicly floated the idea of profiting from traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on several occasions, but he has also repeatedly stated it should be free from tolls.
Some U.S. officials have dismissed the president’s inconsistent comments, suggesting they are part of his negotiating strategy with Iran. However, others say he has shown an intense interest in exploring unusual avenues for covering some of the war effort’s costs since shortly after it began in late February.
That same month, Trump floated a different plan to profit from the conflict during an interview with the New York Times, saying that if efforts to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran failed, the U.S. could become “the guardian of the Middle East” in exchange for 20% of the region’s revenues.
The president’s plan to position the U.S. as “the guardian of the Hormuz Strait” was met with opposition on Monday.
A spokesperson for the International Maritime Agency (IMO), the United Nations agency responsible for regulating maritime shipping, said on Monday it was “aware” of Trump’s post and “awaiting more details,” but that “there is no legal basis through which to introduce mandatory tolls simply to transit through a strait.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives for a bilateral meeting with Switzerland’s counterpart at the Burgenstock luxury hotel complex overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, June 21, 2026, ahead of high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict.
Fabrice Coffrini/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“We have always been consistent on our stance on fees — IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation,” the spokesperson said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Trump’s announcement by saying Iran would charge a more reasonable rate.
“POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service. Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER,” Araghchi said in a post on social medial.
“20% is of course too much. We will be fair,” he said.
France boss Didier Deschamps is predicting a “spectacular” semi-final when his exciting side take on Spain in a heavyweight World Cup showdown in Dallas on Tuesday.
Spain beat France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 on their way to being crowned European champions before defeating Les Bleus in a nine-goal last-four thriller in the Nations League last year.
“The past is in the past,” said Deschamps, who is stepping down at the end of the tournament after 14 years in charge.
“They [Spain] did win in the past but I am looking forward to tomorrow.
“We are now at another level. We want to be in the final.”
Two-time world champions France will become only the third country to reach three straight World Cup finals if they win in Texas (kick-off 20:00 BST).
West Germany in 1982, 1986 and 1990, and Brazil in 1994, 1998 and 2002 are the only countries to manage the feat so far.
Deschamps, who captained France to the world title in 1998, managed them to World Cup glory in 2018 before they were beaten on penalties by Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.
He said Spain will start the semi-final as favourites.
“They have only conceded only one goal in six games,” added Deschamps.
“We know this could be a most spectacular game. [Spain boss] Luis [de la Fuente] and myself we know how to defend and with the quality of two teams offensively, we can think it’s going to be a spectacular game.”
Later, De la Fuente played down Deschamps’ claim that Spain are favourites.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “We are two great national teams facing one another.
“Whether we are favourites or not doesn’t mean further pressure for us. We have that pressure anyway because we want to do well for our country.”
Gene therapy has changed what is possible for people living with sickle cell disease. New treatments have shown that the condition can be successfully treated. But the therapy is costly and available to only a small number of patients.
Millions of people around the world still rely on early diagnosis and preventative medicines, with access to basic care remaining a challenge in many places, including sub-Saharan Africa, which has almost 80% of global sickle cell cases. Are we closer to gene therapy for sickle cell disease being accessible?
We speak to Dr Natasha Archer, director of the Sickle Cell Program at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, US; Dr Alexis Thompson, paediatric haematologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of paediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, US; Dr Leon Tshilolo, professor of paediatrics and haematology at the University of Mbuji-Mayi, DR Congo and Prof Baba Inusa, consultant paediatrician in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences at King’s College London, UK
(Photo: Cell lines are prepared in a laboratory in Maryland, US. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Presenter: Daniel Rosney
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Sound engineer: Cameron Ward
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Gene therapy has changed what is possible for people living with sickle cell disease. New treatments have shown that the condition can be successfully treated. But the therapy is costly and available to only a small number of patients.
Millions of people around the world still rely on early diagnosis and preventative medicines, with access to basic care remaining a challenge in many places, including sub-Saharan Africa, which has almost 80% of global sickle cell cases. Are we closer to gene therapy for sickle cell disease being accessible?
We speak to Dr Natasha Archer, director of the Sickle Cell Program at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, US; Dr Alexis Thompson, paediatric haematologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of paediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, US; Dr Leon Tshilolo, professor of paediatrics and haematology at the University of Mbuji-Mayi, DR Congo and Prof Baba Inusa, consultant paediatrician in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences at King’s College London, UK
(Photo: Cell lines are prepared in a laboratory in Maryland, US. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Presenter: Daniel Rosney
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researcher: Evie Yabsley
Sound engineer: Cameron Ward
Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood
MONTREAL — Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard pleaded guilty Monday to sexual assault and forcible confinement in Quebec, the latest conviction in the downfall of the founder of the once-global Nygard International clothing company. Nygard also faces U.S. racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
The 84-year-old appeared by video from an Ontario prison, where he is serving an 11-year sentence after a Toronto jury convicted him in 2023 of sexually assaulting four women. He also faces extradition to the United States on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Quebec Crown prosecutor Jérôme Laflamme said Nygard’s plea came unexpectedly ahead of what had been scheduled as a 10-day judge-alone trial.
“Mr. Nygard’s change of heart was quite sudden,” Laflamme told reporters, adding the complainant had been prepared to testify.
Evidence presented by the prosecution, which the defense did not contest, showed Nygard took advantage of his position as a renowned fashion designer to lure young women.
It says the victim, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, met Nygard in a bar when she was 18. She wanted to be a fashion model.
They met for lunch at her workplace to discuss her career, and he invited her to his Montreal penthouse, saying he had forgotten his keys. Once in the penthouse, he locked her in the bedroom and sexually assaulted her.
According to the court documents, Nygard told the victim she could move to the Bahamas and promised her a life of luxury under the condition that she would have sex with him and other women.
The events took place between November 1997 and November 1998.
Quebec prosecutors charged Nygard in 2022 with one count of sexual assault and one count of forcible confinement.
Nygard, who immigrated to Canada from Finland as a child, built a global fashion empire and hosted lavish parties at his Bahamas estate, Nygard Cay, before his business collapsed amid sexual assault allegations that led to investigations in Canada and the United States.
Judge Nathalie Fafard accepted evidence of Nygard’s Toronto conviction after finding similarities between the two cases.
Defense lawyer Gerri Wiebe said Nygard chose not to contest the Quebec charges before his pending extradition to the United States. She said he is in frail health and argued that transferring him now could endanger his life.
U.S. prosecutors allege Nygard spent about 25 years using his fashion company, employees and financial resources to recruit women and underage girls in the United States, Canada and the Bahamas for sexual exploitation. He has pleaded not guilty to the U.S. charges.
Sentencing was postponed pending a medical assessment. The case returns to court Oct. 2, when lawyers are expected to present a joint sentencing recommendation.
Wiebe said the United States can only extradite Nygard once his legal matters in Canada are settled. She added that postponing the sentence ensures that Nygard can remain in the country.
