University of Idaho Murderer Bryan Kohberger Hears Victim Impact Statements | Crime Alert 6AM 07.23.25

Bryan Kohberger is set for a sentencing hearing today for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, and the hearing could stretch into a second day as families prepare emotional statements. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche plans to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, as the calls to release the Jeffrey Epstein case files are bringing Congress to a halt. Drew Nelson reports.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alert hourly update, breaking crime news Now. I'm Drew Nelson.
Brian Coburger is set for a sentencing hearing today for
the twenty twenty two murders of four University of Idaho students,
and the hearing could stretch into a second day as
the families prepare emotional statements. The hearing begins at nine
am Pacific time in Aida County District Court in Boise.

(00:21):
Judge Stephen Hippler will preside as victim impact statements from
the families of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Gounzalves, Xena Kernodle, and
Ethan Chapin are expected to take hours. Court officials have
said the sentencing could last two full days. Coburger, aged thirty,
pleaded guilty earlier this month as part of a deal
to avoid the death penalty. He admitted to breaking into

(00:42):
the student's rental home in the early hours of November
thirteenth of twenty twenty two and stabbing them to death.
He will receive four consecutive life sentences with no chance
of parole, plus ten years for burglary. He waived his
right to a trial and appeal. He is not required
to speak during sentencing, but Judge Hipler will give him
the chance. President Donald Trump says he hopes the judge

(01:03):
presses Coburger for answers. In a truth social post, mister
Trump wrote, quote, before sentencing, I hope the judge makes Coburger,
at a minimum explain why he did these horrible murders.
There are no exceptions, there is no nothing. The Gunzalvus
family has been the most outspoken. Steve Gonzalves told CBS
he doesn't know how his daughter died. Quote how many

(01:23):
times was my daughter stabbed? Was she choked? What happened?
And that should be part of our victim impact statement.
A gag order on the case was lifted earlier this month,
and more details may come soon. For more in the
case of Brian Coburger, catch Nancy Tonight at her new time,
seven pm Eastern on Merritt Street Media. Check your local
listings for Channel Member, or follow Crime Stories with Nancy

(01:44):
Grace wherever you get your podcasts. More crime and justice news.
After this, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche plans to meet
with Glenn Maxwell, as the calls to release the Jeffrey
Epstein case files are bringing Congress to a hall on Tuesday.

(02:04):
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that Blanche reached out to
Maxwell's lawyer. Blanche said in a statement posted on x
quote Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department
of Justice is reaching out to Glen Maxwell to ask
what do you know. Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Marcus said
the talks are underway. Quote. I can confirm that we
are in discussions with the government and that Glen will

(02:26):
always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for
his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case. Maxwell
is serving a twenty year prison term for grooming and
recruiting teenage girls for Epstein. She was convicted in twenty
twenty one. Epstein's death in twenty nineteen was ruled a suicide.
He had been indicted on child sex trafficking charges during
mister Trump's first term. The planned meeting with Maxwell follows

(02:49):
rising pressure from mister Trump's political base. Several Republican lawmakers
involved they want full transparency from the Department of Justice
about Epstein's contacts and activities. Movement has only further fueled
conspiracy theories. It has divided Republicans and disrupted House business.
On the same day the meeting was announced, the House
Oversight Committee approved a motion to subpoena Maxwell. Tennessee Representative

(03:12):
Tim Burchett introduced the motion. Chairman James Comer of Kentucky
said Maxwell will be subpoenaed quote as expeditiously as possible,
but Speaker Mike Johnson cut the House's workweek short, starting
August recess a day early. The move came after Democrats
promised to force votes on Epstein related amendments. Johnson said, quote,
there's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to

(03:35):
do something that they're already doing. He blamed Kentucky Representative
Thomas Massey for stirring division. Massey and California Democrat Roe
Conna are pushing a discharge petition to force a House
vote on releasing all Epstein records. Massey carried a binder
titled the Epstein Files Phase two declassified around the Capitol
as a gag. In a statement of July sixth, the

(03:56):
DOJ and FBI said they found no quote unquote club
list and no evidence of blackmail. They said they uncovered
no grounds to charge other individuals. That statement has only
deepened the mistrust among Trump supporters on social media. Mister
Trump ordered the DOJ to release all Epstein grand jury
records quote, subject only to court approval. Blanche and Bondi

(04:18):
have asked a judge to unseal those transcripts. Judge Paul Engelmeyer,
who oversees the Maxwell case, says the DOJ must file
a legal memo by the twenty ninth explaining why disclosure
is necessary and what they are seeking to disclose. Speaker
Johnson says he supports transparency but warned against rushing the process. Quote.
We can both call for full transparency and also protect victims.

(04:42):
If you run roughshod or you do it too quickly,
that's not what happens. Some Republicans are worried that this
could hurt their chances in the twenty twenty six midterms.
Representative Massey, speaking of mister Trump, quote, you don't lose
your base over one single thing. But he's eroding his base.
Why should they vote in the midterms if the trans
cosparency they were promised doesn't happen. Meanwhile, Democrats say mister

(05:04):
Trump is trying to avoid scrutiny. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffreys
of New York said, quote, what are they hiding from
the American people? Release the files so that the American
people can make a decision on their own. Maxwell remains
imprisoned in Florida. Her appeal is before the Supreme Court.
Blant said the DOJ will hear anything she has to
say about others involved. Speaker Johnson said no vote will

(05:27):
be held before recess and that House Republicans stand behind
the Trump administration's plan to handle the matter. For the
latest crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert hourly update
on your favorite podcast app with this crime Alert, I'm
Drew Nelson.