Epstein bill to release files still awaiting Trump’s signature after clearing Congress: Live updates

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Senate approves Jeffrey Epstein files bill after near-unanimous House vote

The bill to force the Justice Department to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is still awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature after clearing Congress.

The Senate sent the legislation to the president’s desk Wednesday morning, CNN reported, and Trump has promised to sign it. But it’s unclear when that will actually happen. There are no more public events expected Wednesday, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins wrote on X.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump delivered a rambling speech at a U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center in which he blasted his political opponents, windmills and eggs.

The president suggested that his daughter Tiffany Trump's graduation was canceled not for Covid but her last name, and later professed to be “all for climate change.”

After the House voted 427-1 to approve the Epstein Transparency Act Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer quickly requested unanimous consent to immediately pass it in the upper chamber, which was granted.

Trump’s base has threatened to tear itself apart over the Epstein scandal, with right-wing broadcasters Alex Jones and Joe Rogan warning of a “MAGA civil war.”

Meanwhile, his own camp has threatened Democrats with a retribution tour to come.

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The White House continues its campaign against ABC News after Trump raged at reporter over Epstein question

The White House has continued its campaign against ABC News after President Donald Trump raged at one of its reporters over a question about the government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“ABC ‘News’ is not journalism — it’s a Democrat spin operation masquerading as a broadcast network,” the White House wrote on its website Wednesday.

It continued: “The network’s longstanding commitment to hoaxes, character assassinations, and outright fiction targeting only one side of the political aisle is a deliberate deception to wage war on President Trump and the millions of Americans who elected him to multiple terms.”

On Tuesday, Trump criticized ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce after she asked him, “Why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files. Why not just do it now?”

“It’s not the question that I mind, it’s your attitude,” Trump replied. “I think you are a terrible reporter.”

The Independent has reached out to ABC News for comment.

Rachel Dobkin20 November 2025 00:40

Watch: Hakeem Jeffries dodges question about Stacey Plaskett-Jeffrey Epsetin texts

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dodged a question from CNN’s Manu Raju Wednesday about Delegate Stacey Plaskett, who reportedly sent texts to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing.

The messages were exchanged more than a decade after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

A resolution from Republican Congressman Ralph Norman, calling for Plaskett to be censured and removed from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, failed 209-214, largely along party lines, on Tuesday night.

Rachel Dobkin20 November 2025 00:20

Larry Summers resigns from Santander Bank board amid Epstein fallout

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has resigned from Santander Bank’s international advisory board, which he chaired, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing a company spokesperson.

Summers previously announced that he was stepping back from public life after the House Oversight Committee released troubling emails between him and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein last week.

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused,” Summers told Politico Monday.

Summers has also resigned from the board of OpenAI.

Rachel Dobkin20 November 2025 00:00

No more public events expected today as Epstein bill awaits Trump's signature

There are no more public events expected today, according to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, as a bill to force the Justice Department to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein awaits President Donald Trump's signature.

The Senate sent the legislation to the president’s desk Wednesday morning, and Trump previously promised to sign it.

Rachel Dobkin19 November 2025 23:40

Three out of four Americans unhappy with Trump’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein saga as bill awaits his signature

A new poll shows that three out of four Americans oppose the way Donald Trump’s administration handled documents related to Jeffrey Epstein as legislation to declassify it sits on the president’s desk.

The Marquette University Law School surveyed 1,052 people nationwide between Nov. 5 and Nov. 12.

The poll found that Trump’s handling of documents related to the disgraced financier was his third-worst polling issue, ahead of only the government shutdown and his administration’s providing between $20 to $40 billion to shore up Argentina.

Only 26 percent of Americans approve of the way Trump has handled the affair, while 74 percent disapprove. A majority of Republicans also disapprove of the way Trump has handled the issue of releasing the Epstein documents, with 57 percent of Republicans disapproving of the way Trump has managed it.

The poll also shows both women and men overwhelmingly disapprove of how Trump has handled the Epstein matter — 73 percent of men disapprove and 74 percent of women. Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 overwhelmingly did not approve, with 84 percent of young people registering their displeasure with his handling of the matter.

Read on…

Three out of four Americans unhappy with Trump’s handling of Epstein saga as bill

Even worse for Trump, a majority of Republicans disapprove of the way he has handled the issue of making the government’s case files on the financier-sex trafficker and pedophile public, a new poll revealsEric Garcia19 November 2025 23:20

Rep. Rashida Tlaib thanks Epstein survivors for 'sharing their stories'

Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, thanked survivors of the late Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse for “sharing their stories” after the House and Senate approved a bill to release government files related to the disgraced financier.

Rachel Dobkin19 November 2025 23:00

When will Trump sign the Epstein bill?

It remains unclear when President Donald Trump will sign a bill to release government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Senate sent the legislation to the president’s desk Wednesday morning, and Trump previously promised to sign it.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller punted questions about the bill signing, telling reporters Wednesday, “Any questions about that, I have nothing to add today.”

Rachel Dobkin19 November 2025 22:40

ANALYSIS: ​​​​​​What Trump’s bear hug of Saudi prince reveals about his vision for America — and the family business

At a lavish black-tie dinner in the East Room on Tuesday to honor Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Donald Trump described himself as the “best friend” the future king and his future kingdom “ever had.”

Less than 24 hours later, at a Saudi-U.S. investment forum at the Kennedy Center, the president said the “partnership” between Washington and Riyadh is “among the most consequential in the world” and boasted that he and Mohammed were “making our alliance stronger and more powerful than it’s ever been before.”

Trump then took the opportunity to bash his two most recent predecessors at the public event by decrying how two former presidents, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, had “not good” relationships with the oil-rich and repressive — but strategically important — absolute monarchy led by the crown prince’s father, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

“You didn't have a good relationship with Barack Hussein Obama. You didn't have a good relationship with sleepy Joe Biden, but you had a great relationship with me, and now it's as good as it was, and probably even better, if you think about it, because we took the Dark Cloud away from your country,” Trump said.

Andrew Feinberg19 November 2025 22:20

Watch: Mic feedback drowns out Melania Trump during school visit

First lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance visited military families at a North Carolina school Wednesday.

Mic feedback drowns out Melania Trump during school visit

Rachel Dobkin19 November 2025 22:00

Trump plans on raising $1B to build his presidential library in downtown Miami

The foundation behind Donald Trump’s presidential library plans on raising nearly $1 billion over the next two years in tax-exempt contributions to build the Miami landmark, according to a report.

Tax documents, obtained by the Miami Herald, suggest that Trump’s presidential library foundation is planning to bring in hundreds of millions over the next two years as the president hopes to transform a plot of land in downtown Miami into a building honoring his legacy.

Kelly Rissman has more:

Trump plans on raising $1B to build his presidential library in downtown Miami

The foundation is expected to receive more than $50 million this year in funds stemming from Trump’s settlements with media companiesMike Bedigan19 November 2025 21:40NewerOlder

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