Beyond The Horizon
Beyond the Horizon is a project that aims to dig a bit deeper than just the surface level that we are so used to with the legacy media while at the same time attempting to side step the gaslighting and rhetoric in search of the truth. From the day to day news that dominates the headlines to more complex geopolitical issues that effect all of our lives, we will be exploring them all. It's time to stop settling for what is force fed to us and it's time to look beyond the horizon.
Mega Edition: Donald Trump And The Ever Growing Jeffrey Epstein Cover Up (11/24/25)
President Trumpâs repeated denials and distractions are intensifying the Epstein controversy rather than defusing it. Despite his claims of cutting ties with Jeffrey Epsteinâsuch as citing a falling-out over employees and denying visits to Epsteinâs private islandâTrumpâs name reportedly appears in newly surfaced documents, and he was even briefed about Epstein-related matters by thenâFlorida Attorney General Pam Bondi. His constant insistence that any questions about Epstein are a âhoaxâ has only deepened public suspicion, particularly among members of his own base who expected transparency and accountability. By refusing to address his past relationship with Epstein in a cle...
Mega Edition: Donald Trump And His Ever Growing Problem With Epstein Survivors (11/23/25)
In private remarks, President Trump is reportedâbased on accounts from Rolling Stone citing two insidersâto have described some of Jeffrey Epsteinâs survivors, particularly those who appeared in the media, as being âclearly of a âDemocratâ political affiliation.â He allegedly suggested that these individuals might be trying âto make him look badâ or implying wrongdoing during his past association with Epstein. The report further notes Trump speculated that they may be working with âprominent liberal attorneys or groupsâ to damage his reputation.
The White House formally denied the report, labeling it false. A spokesperson dismissed the claims as a âdespe...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 12)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 11)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 10)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 9)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Inside My Six-Year Battle Against Jeffrey Epstein: Before the World Listened (Part 3) (11/23/25)
I spent years digging into the Jeffrey Epstein situation when almost nobody wanted to touch it. During that time, speaking publicly about what was really happening came with actual consequencesâjobs vanished, relationships fell apart, and people distanced themselves fast. I dealt with intimidation attempts, anonymous calls, and pressure meant to get me to stop. Instead of backing off, I drove to Zorro Ranch to make it clear that fear wasnât going to dictate anything I did. I grew up around real danger, and those tactics didnât land the way they expected. What mattered then, and still matters now, i...
Inside My Six-Year Battle Against Jeffrey Epstein: Before the World Listened (Part 2) (11/23/25)
I spent years digging into the Jeffrey Epstein situation when almost nobody wanted to touch it. During that time, speaking publicly about what was really happening came with actual consequencesâjobs vanished, relationships fell apart, and people distanced themselves fast. I dealt with intimidation attempts, anonymous calls, and pressure meant to get me to stop. Instead of backing off, I drove to Zorro Ranch to make it clear that fear wasnât going to dictate anything I did. I grew up around real danger, and those tactics didnât land the way they expected. What mattered then, and still matters now, i...
Inside My Six-Year Battle Against Jeffrey Epstein: Before the World Listened (Part 1) (11/23/25)
I spent years digging into the Jeffrey Epstein situation when almost nobody wanted to touch it. During that time, speaking publicly about what was really happening came with actual consequencesâjobs vanished, relationships fell apart, and people distanced themselves fast. I dealt with intimidation attempts, anonymous calls, and pressure meant to get me to stop. Instead of backing off, I drove to Zorro Ranch to make it clear that fear wasnât going to dictate anything I did. I grew up around real danger, and those tactics didnât land the way they expected. What mattered then, and still matters now, i...
Mega Edition: Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell And The Documentaries On Starz And Netflix (11/22/25)
The Netflix documentary Filthy Rich lays out the timeline of Jeffrey Epsteinâs rise to power and the vast ecosystem that enabled him. It centers the survivors, letting them speak directly and in detail about the abuse they endured, and exposes how Epstein used his wealth, legal connections, and intelligence-world relationships to avoid accountability for decades. The film walks through the Palm Beach investigation, the non-prosecution agreement engineered by Alex Acosta, and the pattern of institutional failure that protected Epstein at every turn. It emphasizes the emotional and psychological toll on survivors while presenting a damning portrait of a system de...
Mega Edition: Disgraced Prince Andrew Is Banished In A Peacock Documentary (11/23/25)
The 2022 documentary Prince Andrew: Banished (streaming on Peacock) traces the life and fall of Prince Andrew, Duke of York from a privileged royal heir to a pariah within the monarchy. The film lays out how his upbringingâborn into the spotlight and dubbed the âspareâ heirâcombined with a taste for social privilege and celebrity to set the stage for his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. It uses archival footage and interviews with royal insiders, journalists, and palace staff to show how Andrewâs decisionsâhis friendship with Epstein, his public gaffes, and his fixation on statusâgradually eroded the mon...
Mega Edition: Former USVI First Lady Cecile De Jongh And Her Buddy Jeffrey Epstein (11/23/25)
Cecile de Jongh, former First Lady of the U.S. Virgin Islands, admitted in court filings that she stayed at Jeffrey Epsteinâs Manhattan apartment in 2017 while undergoing knee-replacement surgery. According to the reporting, she explained the stay as a matter of convenience because the apartment offered an elevator and close proximity to the hospital. However, the acknowledgment has intensified scrutiny over the long-standing relationship between Epstein and political leadership in the Virgin Islands, raising questions about the nature and depth of the ties between Epstein and the territoryâs most influential public figures.
The stay is part...
Mega Edition: Governor John de Jongh's Motion To Dismiss The Epstein Survivors Lawsuit (Part 3-4) (11/22/25)
Former U.S. Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh Jr. has filed a memorandum in federal court seeking to dismiss, transfer, or strike the lawsuit brought by five anonymous women identified as Jane Does 1-5, who accuse the Virgin Islands government and several current and former officials of enabling Jeffrey Epsteinâs trafficking network. De Jongh argues that the Southern District of New York lacks jurisdiction, asserting he has been a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands for decades and has no substantial ties to New York that would justify the case being heard there. He also claims he wa...
Mega Edition: Governor John de Jongh's Motion To Dismiss The Epstein Survivors Lawsuit (Part 1-2) (11/20/25)
Former U.S. Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh Jr. has filed a memorandum in federal court seeking to dismiss, transfer, or strike the lawsuit brought by five anonymous women identified as Jane Does 1-5, who accuse the Virgin Islands government and several current and former officials of enabling Jeffrey Epsteinâs trafficking network. De Jongh argues that the Southern District of New York lacks jurisdiction, asserting he has been a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands for decades and has no substantial ties to New York that would justify the case being heard there. He also claims he wa...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 8)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 7)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 6)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 5)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Ghislaine Maxwellâs Whistleblower Silenced: Inside the BOP Cover-Up (11/22/25)
In a development that has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability, the Bureau of Prisons has reportedly terminated the employee who exposed Ghislaine Maxwellâs preferential treatment while in federal custody. Rather than address why a convicted sex trafficker was receiving unusual accommodations â including a relocation that has never been fully explained â officials chose instead to penalize the individual who alerted the public. The agencyâs justification rests on claims of âpolicy violationsâ and unauthorized communication with the media, a defense that has done little to dispel concerns that the move was designed to suppress scrutiny rather than uphold procedure. F...
Katie Johnson and Donald Trump: Examining the Claims and the Silence (11/22/25)
In 2016 a woman using the name Katie Johnson filed a federal lawsuit alleging that she had been assaulted as a minor â in her complaint she claimed that in 1994, when she was 13, she was lured by Jeffrey Epstein to his Manhattan residence with promises of modeling, and that Trump and Epstein took turns sexually assaulting her during a series of parties. After filing the suit, the case was dismissed or voluntarily withdrawn, and the woman's identity and credibility came under heavy question. Media investigations found no independent verification of the accuserâs identity or direct confirmation of her story, and suggested the...
Bill Gates And The Epstein Questions That Just Won't Go Away (11/22/25)
Bill Gates has once again been pulled back into the Jeffrey Epstein maelstrom as newly resurfaced records and correspondence reignite questions about the true depth of his relationship with Epsteinâlong after Epsteinâs 2008 conviction made his reputation impossible to ignore. The latest disclosures include communications involving Gatesâ philanthropic circle that appear to show Epstein positioning himself as a broker of influence, attempting to connect Gates with political figures and high-level networks. These revelations undermine the long-standing public narrative that Gates only met with Epstein a handful of times for benign philanthropic purposes and had no meaningful partnership with him. They a...
Mega Edition: Johanna Sjoberg's Deposition In The Maxwell/Virginia Roberts Suit (Part 9-10) (11/22/25)
In her deposition in the defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Johanna Sjoberg described being recruited to work for Jeffrey Epstein under the impression that it was a legitimate job opportunity. According to her testimony, she was initially hired to help with office work but was soon asked to give massages to Epsteinâsomething she testified quickly evolved into inappropriate and unwanted conduct. Sjoberg stated that Ghislaine Maxwell played a central role in managing the household and was often present during these encounters, contributing to the atmosphere of control and pressure. Her deposition supported claims made by Gi...
Mega Edition: Johanna Sjoberg's Deposition In The Maxwell/Virginia Roberts Suit (Part 7-8) (11/22/25)
In her deposition in the defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Johanna Sjoberg described being recruited to work for Jeffrey Epstein under the impression that it was a legitimate job opportunity. According to her testimony, she was initially hired to help with office work but was soon asked to give massages to Epsteinâsomething she testified quickly evolved into inappropriate and unwanted conduct. Sjoberg stated that Ghislaine Maxwell played a central role in managing the household and was often present during these encounters, contributing to the atmosphere of control and pressure. Her deposition supported claims made by Gi...
Mega Edition: Johanna Sjoberg's Deposition In The Maxwell/Virginia Roberts Suit (Part 5-6) (11/22/25)
In her deposition in the defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Johanna Sjoberg described being recruited to work for Jeffrey Epstein under the impression that it was a legitimate job opportunity. According to her testimony, she was initially hired to help with office work but was soon asked to give massages to Epsteinâsomething she testified quickly evolved into inappropriate and unwanted conduct. Sjoberg stated that Ghislaine Maxwell played a central role in managing the household and was often present during these encounters, contributing to the atmosphere of control and pressure. Her deposition supported claims made by Gi...
Mega Edition: Johanna Sjoberg's Deposition In The Maxwell/Virginia Roberts Suit (Part 3-4) (11/21/25)
In her deposition in the defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Johanna Sjoberg described being recruited to work for Jeffrey Epstein under the impression that it was a legitimate job opportunity. According to her testimony, she was initially hired to help with office work but was soon asked to give massages to Epsteinâsomething she testified quickly evolved into inappropriate and unwanted conduct. Sjoberg stated that Ghislaine Maxwell played a central role in managing the household and was often present during these encounters, contributing to the atmosphere of control and pressure. Her deposition supported claims made by Gi...
Mega Edition: Johanna Sjoberg's Deposition In The Maxwell/Virginia Roberts Suit (Part 1-2) (11/21/25)
In her deposition in the defamation lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Johanna Sjoberg described being recruited to work for Jeffrey Epstein under the impression that it was a legitimate job opportunity. According to her testimony, she was initially hired to help with office work but was soon asked to give massages to Epsteinâsomething she testified quickly evolved into inappropriate and unwanted conduct. Sjoberg stated that Ghislaine Maxwell played a central role in managing the household and was often present during these encounters, contributing to the atmosphere of control and pressure. Her deposition supported claims made by Gi...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 4)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 3)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 2)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
Adria English And Her Amended Lawsuit Filed Against Diddy (Part 1)
Adria English has publicly accused Sean "Diddy" Combs of physical abuse and coercion, alleging that he used his power and influence to control her and others within his circle. She claims that Diddy engaged in violent behavior and forced her into various compromising situations, leveraging his status in the entertainment industry to intimidate her into silence. English has described incidents where Diddy allegedly inflicted emotional and physical harm, manipulating her through a combination of threats and promises to maintain his control. Her allegations add to the growing list of accusations that paint a disturbing picture of abuse by the music...
What The Epstein Emails Tell Us About The Legacy Media (11/21/25)
Recent revelations have intensified scrutiny of major news organizations and their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, particularly following the release of emails showing New York Times reporter Landon Thomas Jr. communicating with Epstein in a manner critics say appeared closer to strategic guidance than objective journalism. The correspondence has revived longstanding accusations that influential media outletsâincluding ABC, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, and the New York Timesâminimized or suppressed reporting that could have brought Epsteinâs activities to light sooner. Multiple newsrooms previously dismissed concerns as fringe speculation or âconspiracy theory,â creating an environment in which survivors struggled...
Donald Trump Signs The Epstein Transparency Bill Into Law (Part 2) (11/21/25)
President Donald Trump abruptly reversed his longstanding opposition to public disclosure of documents related to Jeffrey Epsteinâs network, telling House Republicans to back a measure requiring the Department of Justice to release Epstein-related files. He previously labelled the disclosure effort a âhoaxâ and actively resisted it, but as bipartisan and intraparty pressure mountedâincluding from conservative lawmakersâthe tide shifted and he pledged to sign the bill if passed.
The legislation mandates the DOJ to publish all unclassified records tied to Epsteinâs investigations within 30 days, with limited allowances for redactions only to protect victims or continuing probes; it e...
Donald Trump Signs The Epstein Transparency Bill Into Law (Part 1) (11/21/25)
President Donald Trump abruptly reversed his longstanding opposition to public disclosure of documents related to Jeffrey Epsteinâs network, telling House Republicans to back a measure requiring the Department of Justice to release Epstein-related files. He previously labelled the disclosure effort a âhoaxâ and actively resisted it, but as bipartisan and intraparty pressure mountedâincluding from conservative lawmakersâthe tide shifted and he pledged to sign the bill if passed.
The legislation mandates the DOJ to publish all unclassified records tied to Epsteinâs investigations within 30 days, with limited allowances for redactions only to protect victims or continuing probes; it e...
Epstein Survivors Already Named Names â Some People Just Wanted a Different Storyline (11/21/25
A persistent misconception continues to circulate around the Epstein case: the belief that survivors have never identified individuals involved. In reality, numerous names have already been publicly stated in sworn testimony, court filings, and interviews. Among those named are former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, former Senate majority leader George Mitchell, financier Glenn Dubin, scientist Marvin Minsky, billionaire retail magnate Les Wexner, investor Leon Black, Hyatt executive Thomas Pritzker, and Prince Andrew. These are not obscure figures; they are individuals of immense political and financial influence. Yet the public response has largely been silence, shaped by partisan distractions and misinformation...
You Didn't Actually Think Disgraced Prince Andrew Would Speak With Congress Did You? (11/21/25)
Prince Andrewâs continued evasion of accountability has transformed him into a central figure in the fallout surrounding Jeffrey Epsteinâs criminal empire. Born into one of the most privileged positions on earth, he repeatedly placed himself in Epsteinâs inner circle even after Epsteinâs conviction, including reportedly staying at his home in New York after the scandal was public. A widely criticized BBC interview intended to clear his name instead became a defining moment of public collapse, in which Andrew offered implausible explanations involving a Pizza Express alibi and a medical claim that he could not sweatâresponses that signi...
Mega Edition: Stacey Plaskett Calls The Epstein Related Lawsuit Filed Against Her Frivolous (11/21/25)
Stacey Plaskett, the U.S. Virgin Islands delegate to the U.S. House, has called the civil lawsuit filed against her by six survivors of Jeffrey Epsteinâs trafficking scheme âfrivolous.â In her motion seeking sanctions against the plaintiffsâ attorney, she described the accusations as âoutright untruth, fiction and misrepresentation,â stating the attorney persisted with what she characterized as unfounded claims even after her legal team warned that continuing would trigger a Rule 11 motion.
The lawsuit, originally filed in November 2023 and amended twice, alleged that Plaskett and other U.S. Virgin Islands officials helped facilitate Epsteinâs trafficking operations, in...
Mega Edition: Ghislaine Maxwell And The Deal That Never Materialized (11/21/25)
From the moment Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in 2020, there was widespread speculation that she would eventually cut a deal with federal prosecutors. Many observers believed she held explosive information about Epsteinâs most powerful associatesânames that could devastate careers, shake institutions, and expose a sprawling web of enablers. The logic was simple: Maxwell was facing decades in prison, and prosecutors often rely on cooperation agreements to dismantle complex trafficking networks. The headlines, courtroom chatter, and legal commentators all echoed the same expectationâMaxwell would flip to save herself, and the public would finally learn the truth about who else partic...
Mega Edition: Stacey Plaskett And Her Confidante Jeffrey Epstein (11/20/25)
Jeffrey Epsteinâs role as a benefactor to Stacey Plaskett has become a focal point as records show that he provided financial support to her political campaigns while she was serving as the congressional delegate for the U.S. Virgin Islands. Multiple donations were made by Epstein and individuals connected to him over several election cycles, reportedly totaling tens of thousands of dollars. These contributions have fueled criticism that Plaskett benefited directly from Epsteinâs wealth and influence at a time when many institutions and public figures were distancing themselves from him following his 2008 conviction.
Beyond the mone...
Murder In Moscow: The IGG Closed Hearing Transcripts (Part 13)
On January 23, 2025, a closed hearing was held in the case of State of Idaho v. Bryan C. Kohberger before Judge Steven Hippler. The primary focus was the defense's motion to suppress evidence obtained through Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), which they argued violated Kohberger's Fourth Amendment rights. Detective Brett Payne testified that the IGG lead was treated as a tip, with further independent investigation conducted to substantiate its validity. Defense expert Dr. Leah Larkin suggested potential violations of FBI policy and genealogy database terms of service during the IGG process. However, Judge Hippler expressed skepticism regarding the defense's claims, noting the...
Murder In Moscow: The IGG Closed Hearing Transcripts (Part 12)
On January 23, 2025, a closed hearing was held in the case of State of Idaho v. Bryan C. Kohberger before Judge Steven Hippler. The primary focus was the defense's motion to suppress evidence obtained through Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), which they argued violated Kohberger's Fourth Amendment rights. Detective Brett Payne testified that the IGG lead was treated as a tip, with further independent investigation conducted to substantiate its validity. Defense expert Dr. Leah Larkin suggested potential violations of FBI policy and genealogy database terms of service during the IGG process. However, Judge Hippler expressed skepticism regarding the defense's claims, noting the...