The scandal has been a thorn in Trump\u2019s side for months, partly because he amplified conspiracy theories about Epstein to his own supporters. Many Trump voters believe his administration has covered up Epstein\u2019s ties to powerful figures and obscured details surrounding his death, which was ruled a suicide, in a Manhattan jail in 2019 as he faced federal sex trafficking charges.<\/p>\n
At a news conference today, Bondi confirmed that the DOJ will release its Epstein-related material within 30 days, as required by legislation that passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives<\/a> and Senate yesterday. \u201cWe will continue to follow the law and encourage maximum transparency,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n But that release may not be comprehensive, as the agency may have to hold back material that could impact Trump-ordered investigations of Democratic figures who associated with Epstein.<\/p>\n The department will also protect the identities of any sex-trafficking victims whose names appear in the documents, she said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.11 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n As of 3.52pm ET, on a grey afternoon in Washington, we\u2019ve yet to hear from the White House about whether the press will watch Donald Trump sign the bill directing the justice department to release unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll make sure to update you if that changes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.53 EST<\/p>\n Trump nominates new CFPB director, in move that allows Vought to continue dismantling agency<\/p>\n The president has nominated a new director of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), in a move that allows the current acting director, Russell Vought, who also serves as the director of the office of management and budget, to remain in his position and continue dismantling the agency.<\/p>\n Russell Vought speaks outside the White House on 29 September 2025. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s decision to nominate Stuart Levenbach, an official in the budget office, as the permanent director provides a crucial loophole that allows Vought to stay put, three weeks before he would otherwise have to step aside. Federal law says that an acting official can only serve for 210 days, unless the president nominates another person for the position.<\/p>\n Vought took over the CFPB earlier this year, and has consistently pushed for the watchdog\u2019s elimination, including trying to fire most of its staff.<\/p>\n Today, Elizabeth Warren \u2013\u00a0the top Democrat on the Senate banking committee \u2013\u00a0said that Levenbach\u2019s nomination was \u201cnothing more than a front for Russ Vought to stay on as acting director indefinitely as he tries to illegally close down the agency\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.52 EST<\/p>\n Tom Steyer, the billionaire environmental activist who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, will run for California<\/a> governor, he announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The 68-year-old joins a crowded field of candidates seeking to replace Gavin Newsom<\/a>, and in a statement released this week pledged to focus on the state\u2019s intractable affordability crisis.<\/p>\n Tom Steyer at a 2020 campaign stop in Columbia, South Carolina, 28 February 2020. Photograph: Mark Makela\/Reuters<\/p>\n \u201cCalifornians deserve a life they can afford. But the Californians who make this state run are being run over by the cost of living. We need to get back to basics. And that means making corporations pay their fair share again,\u201d Steyer said.<\/p>\n With Newsom termed out from running again, several prominent Democrats have entered the race, including former congresswoman Katie Porter; Xavier Becerra, a former US cabinet member; Antonio Villaraigosa, a former state lawmaker who served as the LA mayor; and Betty Yee, who was the state controller from 2015 to 2023. Congressman Eric Swalwell is expected<\/a> to announce plans to run.<\/p>\n Porter was considered the frontrunner until October when video emerged<\/a> of her appearing frustrated with a journalist during an interview with a local news outlet and threatening to walk out. In the aftermath of the incident, Republican Chad Bianco, the Riverside county sheriff who is running for governor, took the lead in polling<\/a>. Steve Hilton, a former David Cameron adviser and Fox News host, is also running<\/a> as a Republican.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.16 EST<\/p>\n New poll shows that majority of voters would back a Democratic congressional candidate in 2026<\/p>\n A majority of nationally registered voters said they would back a Democratic congressional candidate if the 2026 midterms were held today, according to a new poll<\/a> by NPR\/PBS News\/Marist University.<\/p>\n While 55% of respondents said they would support a Democrat, 41% would support the Republican, and 3% would back another candidate.<\/p>\n Notably, 39% of the Americans surveyed said that they blame Democrats for the record-breaking government shutdown. Trump received 34% of the responsibility, while 26% blame congressional Republicans<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Here’s a recap of the day so far<\/p>\n The US justice department will release files from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> within 30 days, Pam Bondi, the attorney general, has said, after Congress voted nearly unanimously to force Donald Trump\u2019s administration to make them public. At a news conference today, Bondi confirmed that the justice department will release its Epstein-related material within 30 days, as required by legislation that passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives<\/a> and Senate yesterday. \u201cWe will continue to follow the law and encourage maximum transparency,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n However, the department may have to hold back material that could affect Trump-ordered investigations of Democratic figures who associated with Epstein. They could argue that releasing certain documents would be prejudicial.<\/p>\n The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has said it will not release a full US jobs report for the month of October, following the country\u2019s longest ever federal government shutdown. Instead, the available figures will be published with November\u2019s data in mid-December, the BLS said. The October data is expected to show negative job growth after about 100,000 federal workers participated in the deferred-resignation program and formally left payrolls in late September during the shutdown.<\/p>\n In federal court today, Lindsey Halligan, the president\u2019s handpicked choice for interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, and another prosecutor acknowledged that the entire grand jury never saw the final indictment against James Comey. Halligan charged the former FBI director with lying to Congress in September. But when the prosecution was questioned by Judge Michael Nachmanoff today, they admitted that the a new version of the indictment was not presented to the full panel after it rejected one of the charges.<\/p>\n The US has signalled to Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a US-drafted framework to end Russia\u2019s war that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons, two people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. The sources, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the proposals included cutting the size of Ukraine\u2019s armed forces, among other things. Washington wants Kyiv to accept the main points, the sources said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.41 EST<\/p>\n Prosecutors admit that entire grand jury did not see final indictment against James Comey<\/p>\n In federal court today, Lindsey Halligan (the president\u2019s handpicked choice for interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia) and another prosecutor acknowledged that the entire grand jury never saw the final indictment against James Comey.<\/p>\n Halligan charged the former FBI director with lying to Congress in September. But when the prosecution was probed by Judge Michael Nachmanoff today, they admitted that the a new version of the indictment was not presented to the full panel, after they rejected one of the charges. Instead, Halligan gave the grand jury\u2019s foreperson an updated version to sign. \u201cThe foreperson and another grand juror was also present,\u201d she confirmed to Nachmanoff.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no indictment,\u201d said Comey\u2019s attorney Michael Dreeben, arguing that this error is grounds for dismissal.<\/p>\n Lindsey Halligan speaks with a reporter outside the White House on 20 August 2025. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.00 EST<\/p>\n Joseph Gedeon<\/p>\n A Republican attempt to censure Stacey Plaskett, a Democratic delegate, over her real-time texts with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> collapsed on the House floor on Tuesday night, prompting a confrontation on the chamber floor and accusations that party leaders had struck a deal to protect members on both sides facing ethics controversies.<\/p>\n The measure, which would have formally reprimanded Plaskett and removed her from the House intelligence committee over her text message exchanges with Epstein during a hearing, failed by a vote of 209 to 214.<\/p>\n Stacey Plaskett speaks during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill on 9 February 2023. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein\/Reuters<\/p>\n Republicans Don Bacon of Nebraska, Lance Gooden of Texas and Dave Joyce of Ohio voted with all Democrats against the resolution, while three other Republicans<\/a> voted present.<\/p>\n When newly released materials exposed Plaskett, a Democrat from the US Virgin Islands, for exchanging real-time messages with Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing, all Democrats<\/a> voted against her censure.<\/p>\n Then, immediately after the vote, Democrats withdrew a planned censure resolution against Cory Mills, a Florida Republican representative facing allegations of stolen valor<\/a>, financial misconduct<\/a> and domestic abuse<\/a>. Mills has denied the accusations.<\/p>\n The sequence prompted Lauren Boebert, a representative of Colorado, to shout at fellow Republicans<\/a> on the House floor, wagging her finger and at one point directly confronting Mills.<\/p>\n Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican representative from Florida, attempted to raise a parliamentary inquiry asking Mike Johnson, the House speaker, to \u201cexplain why leadership on both sides, both Democrat and Republican, are cutting back-end deals to cover up public corruption in the House of Representatives\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cGet it, girl,\u201d Boebert shouted in response.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.22 EST<\/p>\n Bureau of Labor Statistics says October jobs report won’t be released until mid-December<\/p>\n The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has said it will not release a full US jobs report for the month of October, following the country\u2019s longest ever federal government shutdown.<\/p>\n Instead, the available figures will be published with November\u2019s data in mid-December, the BLS said.<\/p>\n The October data is expected to show negative job growth after around 100,000 federal workers participated in the deferred resignation program and formally left payrolls in late September during the shutdown.<\/p>\n The announcement will have major implications for the Federal Reserve, whose officials are debating whether to lower interest rates again when they meet next month.<\/p>\n On this the New York Times notes: \u201cPolicymakers have grown more divided in recent weeks, with those inclined to cut rates emphasizing their concerns about the labor market and those hesitant to make a move focusing on the risks posed by inflation reaccelerating again. Typically, new economic data would help to resolve some of those differences. But the Fed will not have much new data in hand much new data before it has to make its decision on 10 December.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.56 EST<\/p>\n Justice department will release Epstein files within 30 days, Bondi says<\/p>\n The US justice department will release files from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> within 30 days, attorney general Pam Bondi has said, after Congress voted nearly unanimously to force Donald Trump\u2019s administration to make them public.<\/p>\n The scandal has been a thorn in Trump\u2019s side for months, partly because he amplified conspiracy theories about Epstein to his own supporters. Many Trump voters believe his administration has covered up Epstein\u2019s ties to powerful figures and obscured details surrounding his death, which was ruled a suicide, in a Manhattan jail in 2019 as he faced federal sex trafficking charges.<\/p>\n At a news conference today, Bondi confirmed that the DOJ will release its Epstein-related material within 30 days, as required by legislation that passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives<\/a> and Senate yesterday. \u201cWe will continue to follow the law and encourage maximum transparency,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n But that release may not be comprehensive, as the agency may have to hold back material that could impact Trump-ordered investigations of Democratic figures who associated with Epstein.<\/p>\n The department will also protect the identities of any sex-trafficking victims whose names appear in the documents, she said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.11 EST<\/p>\n The US president says the United States is \u201cgoing to be selling Saudi Arabia<\/a> some of the greatest military equipment ever built\u201d and says \u201cthe airplanes\u201d would be \u201capproved very quickly\u201d.<\/p>\n Yesterday, Trump confirmed the US would sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia<\/a>, marking the first sale of the advanced fighter jets to a Middle Eastern state other than Israel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.32 EST<\/p>\n Trump also says that $270bn in agreements and sales were being signed between \u201cdozens of companies\u201d today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.25 EST<\/p>\n Trump reiterates that he signed an agreement designating Saudi Arabia<\/a> a major non-Nato ally at last night\u2019s dinner with the crown prince.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major, non-Nato ally, which is something that is very important to them,\u201d Trump said last night.<\/p>\n The US currently has 19 other countries listed<\/a> as major non-Nato allies, including Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar.<\/p>\n \u201cA stronger and more capable alliance will advance the interests of both countries, and it will serve the highest interest of peace,\u201d Trump said during the dinner.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, have been delivering remarks to the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center. I\u2019ll bring you any key lines that come out of that here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US proposals to end Russia’s war involve Ukraine giving up land and some weapons \u2013 reports<\/p>\n The US has signalled to Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a US-drafted framework to end Russia\u2019s war which proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons, two people familiar with the matter have told Reuters.<\/p>\n The sources, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the proposals included cutting the size of Ukraine\u2019s armed forces, among other things. Washington wants Kyiv to accept the main points, the sources said.<\/p>\n Emergency services at work in the aftermath of the Russian attack in Ternopil. Photograph: State Emergency Service of Ukraine\/Reuters<\/p>\n Earlier, we covered Axios\u2019s report<\/a> of a secret US 28-point peace plan, hammered out with Russia (and without any direct input from Ukraine and other European allies), that is now on the table to end the war. According to Axios\u2019s sources, the plan\u2019s 28 points fall into four general buckets: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, security in Europe, and future US relations with Russia and Ukraine.<\/p>\n And this morning, Politico reported, citing a senior White House official, that \u201cthey expect a framework for ending the conflict to be agreed by all parties by the end of this month \u2013 and possibly \u2018as soon as this week\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n Trump administration officials told the outlet last night that they were on the brink of a major breakthrough and it seemed as though the plan would be presented to Zelenskyy as a fait accompli.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we are going to present [to Ukraine] is reasonable,\u201d the senior White House official told Politico, with the mood in the administration one in which Zelenskyy, under pressure on the battlefield and at home in the face of a mounting corruption scandal<\/a>, must accept what\u2019s on offer.<\/p>\n You can follow my colleague Jakub Krupa\u2019s coverage of the war here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.18 EST<\/p>\n Comey’s lawyers argue that Trump’s public comments prove case is a political attack<\/p>\n Lawyers for James Comey are arguing that the case against the former FBI director is nothing more than a personal attack, born out of Donald Trump\u2019s desire to prosecute his political adversary.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an extraordinary case and it merits an extraordinary remedy,\u201d Comey\u2019s defense lawyer, Michael Dreeben, said today at a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Dreeben added that the president\u2019s public comments about Comey are \u201ceffectively an admission that this is a political prosecution and not based on evidence\u201d.<\/p>\n A reminder that Comey is charged with lying to Congress in 2020, and has pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n On Monday, another federal judge found evidence of \u201cgovernment misconduct\u201d in how Lindsey Halligan, the interim US attorney general for the eastern district of Virginia, secured criminal charges against the former FBI director, and ordered that grand jury materials be turned over to Comey\u2019s defense team.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.58 EST<\/p>\n House set to repeal funding bill provision to allow senators to sue government over phone records<\/p>\n Later today, we\u2019re expecting a vote in the House that would repeal a provision tucked into the stopgap spending bill passed last week (which ended the record-breaking government shutdown) that allows senators to sue the federal government because their phone records were subpoenaed in 2023 by the special counsel investigating Donald Trump\u2019s effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.<\/p>\n Most Republicans<\/a> in the House have derided the measure, while the Senate majority leader, John Thune, remained convinced it was necessary. \u201cThe House is going to do what they\u2019re going to do with it,\u201d he said of the lower chamber lawmakers. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t apply to them.\u201d However, a number of GOP senators have indicated they\u2019re happy to do away with the provision. This even includes some of the eight lawmakers whose phone data the FBI sought and obtained as part of Jack Smith\u2019s investigation.<\/p>\n That vote is currently scheduled for 8:15pm ET.<\/p>\n![\"Dani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Dani_Anguiano.png\")
Dani Anguiano<\/p>\n