House approves release of Epstein files after Trump and Republican allies drop resistance – US politics live | US news
US House approves bill to force release of Epstein files in near-unanimous vote
The US House overwhelmingly approved a bill demanding that the Justice Department release all files related to its investigation into the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The finally tally was 427-1, with five members not voting.
Cheers rang out in the chamber, when the gavel banged the vote closed.
Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, was the sole House member to vote against the measure.
The near-unanimous vote was the culmination of a months-long effort led by a bipartisan group of House members that initially faced deep opposition from the president and House leadership. But as it became clear the Speaker’s manoeuvring to prevent a vote on the petition would not succeed, Trump reversed course and threw his support behind the effort.
The bill next moves to the Senate. If it is approved by the upper chamber, it would then go to Trump for his signature. Trump told reporters on Monday he would sign the legislation if it reached his desk – still an if.
Democrats, as well as the bill’s bipartisan sponsors, have called on Trump not to wait for Congress to act and instead to order the Justice Department to release the files, which he has the power to do. Senate Democrats
Key events
Chris Stein
While the House votes, the Guardian’s congressional correspondent Chris Stein sends this dispatch from Capitol Hill.
As the House debates the bill to require release of the government’s investigative files related to alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, survivors of his abuses clapped from the chamber’s gallery, prompting an admonition from the chair.
“I rise today to acknowledge the survivors, family members and advocates who are here today and have never given up the legislation in front of us, at its core is about something very simple: The survivors deserve justice. The American people deserve the truth,” said Democratic congresswoman Adelita Grijlava.
“Protecting women and children from pedophiles should not be a Democratic issue. Should not be a Republican issue. It should be a human rights issue and a matter of justice. I urge my colleagues to vote yes.”
The group broke into applause after Grijalva — who, after a lengthy delay, provided the final signature on a discharge petition that forced a vote on this bill — finished her remarks.
The Republican lawmaker presiding over the House then addressed the group, saying “the chair will remind all persons in the gallery that they are here as guests of the House, and that any manifestation of approval or disapproval of proceedings is in violation of the rules of the House.”
Jamie Raskin, the Democratic congressman managing the party’s debate, chimed in, saying: “I’ll just add, they’re here as honored guests of the House, and we’re delighted they’re here.”
Congressman Jamie Raskin, who has been leading the debate for Democrats on the House floor, issued a forceful rebuttal of the Speaker’s comments before the chamber moved to a vote.
“We want the whole truth to come out,” Raskin said, arguing that it was Johnson and Republicans who have been dragging their feet on releasing the files, including delaying the swearing in of Adelita Grijalva, who provided the 218th signature to advance the petition.
“Even the British Monarchy wouldn’t put up with this,” Raskin continued. “How about the American democracy? How about we say: ‘No way we’re not going to allow this cover up to go on for one day more.’”
House begins vote on releasing the Epstein files
House members are now voting on the petition to compel the Justice Department to release the Epstein files.
The House is concluding debate on a petition that would force the Justice Department to release its Epstein files. In a floor speech, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would vote in favor of the measure, but accused the Democrats of caring more about smearing Trump than seeing justice for Epstein’s victims.
“They didn’t say anything for four years, but they’re for maximum transparency now,” Johnson said, adding that he expects the files to be released with the appropriate redactions. “But we want to do it in a respectful and careful manner so that we don’t subject innocent people to further harm.”
Many victims have urged Congress to approve the petition without delay. “It’s time that we put the political agendas and party affiliations to the side. This is a human issue. This is about children,” survivor Haley Robson said at the press conference. “There is no place in society for exploitation, sexual crimes or exploitation of women.”
Federal judges rule that Texas can’t use new congressional maps
A panel of federal judges has ruled that Texas cannot use the 2025 congressional map for the midterms. Instead, the state must use the 2021 boundaries in the upcoming election.
The map, drawn by the GOP lawmakers in Texas at the behest of Donald Trump, was the catalyst of a nationwide redistricting battle. In response, California voters passed a ballot initiative to redraw their own maps, offsetting the five seats that Republicans gained in Texas in the process.
In today’s ruling, the judges, which included a Trump appointee, said that the creation of a new map appeared unconstitutional and “racially gerrymandered”.
Trump claims bin Salman ‘knew nothing about’ murder of Khashoggi, despite US intelligence finding he approved it
Lucy Campbell
In the Oval Office, an ABC reporter addressed the elephant in the room, asking whether why Americans should trust bin Salman given that US intelligence concluded that he orchestrated the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Trump blasted ABC News as fake news, before contradicting US intelligence on Saudi prince’s role in Khashoggi death:
You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman [Khashoggi] that you’re talking about. Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he [bin Salman] knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that. You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking something like that.
However, US intelligence concluded in 2021 that bin Salman approved the capture or killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The crown prince denied ordering the operation but acknowledged responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto ruler.
Follow along with the latest developments from the crown prince’s visit to the White House.
Speaking on the House floor today, Nancy Mace – the South Carolina Republican who signed the discharge petition – spoke about her own experiences of sexual assault and domestic abuse.
“I still don’t have justice, like millions of women across the country, when I spoke out, I got attacked when I spoke out, I was shamed. When I spoke out, I was defamed and smeared, and that goes on today,” she said. “Because you come forward and because you talk about sexual assault, you are not a slut, you’re not a whore, but that’s how women are treated, and you’re not lying.”
Senate minority leader says he will try and force vote on Epstein files once House passes the bill
Top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, said today that “once the House passes the bill to release the Epstein files,” he will “move for the Senate to immediately take it up and pass it – period.”
In a statement, he added: “Republicans have spent months trying to protect Donald Trump and hide what’s in the files. Americans are tired of waiting and are demanding to see the truth. If Leader Thune tries to bury the bill, I’ll stop him.”
House begins debate on release of Epstein files
The US House has begun debating the bill to release the justice department files on Jeffrey Epstein.
Thomas Massie, the Republican congressman who co-let the bipartisan discharge petition to force a vote on the House floor, said he was “thankful to the three brave women: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Mace, Lauren Bobert”. These are the only other GOP lawmakers who signed the petition.
“They have been intimidated by people in our own party,” Massie said. “I congratulate them for standing strong.”
Meeting with Saudi crown prince underway in Oval Office
Lucy Campbell
In his opening remarks, Trump said Saudi Arabia has agreed to invest $600bn in the US. “That number could go up a little bit higher,” he added. “But I don’t know, we’ll see.”
Bin Salman noted that Saudi Arabia “believes in the future of America” and is going to increase its pledge to almost $1tn of investment in the United States.
Trump went on to say that he and the crown prince have been “really good friends for a long period of time”.
Top Democrat on oversight committee says Trump ‘has the power’ to release the Epstein files
Speaking at a news conference on Capitol Hill, the ranking member of the House oversight committee, Robert Garcia, said that the president “has the power” to release the complete Epstein files, without a vote in Congress.
“In fact, a few months ago, the oversight committee put in place a subpoena for all of the files through the department of justice, and still they have released nothing. And so at the end of the day, Donald Trump today can bring justice for the survivors and he refuses to do so,” Garcia added.
Saudi crown prince arrives at White House, greeted by Trump
Mohammed bin Salman has arrived at the White House, met by Donald Trump and complete with a military honor guard, a cannon salute, and a flyover by US warplanes – which included F35s. My colleague, Lucy Campbell is covering the latest at our dedicated live blog.
She notes that the two men chatted while walking along the row of presidential portraits on the colonnade at the White House, which Trump recently unveiled as the “Presidential Walk of Fame”.
