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As we mentioned earlier, the sole holdout in today\u2019s vote to release the justice department files on Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> was Republican congressman Clay Higgins. He said that the bill, in its current form, doesn\u2019t adequately protect victims, survivors, and \u201cthousands of innocent people\u201d.<\/p>\n The Louisiana lawmaker added:<\/p>\n If the Senate amends the bill to properly address privacy of victims and other Americans, who are named but not criminally implicated, then I will vote for that bill when it comes back to the House.<\/p>\n Clay Higgins speaks during a budget hearing on Capitol Hill, 16 April 2024. Photograph: Julia Nikhinson\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n However, there are provisions in the legislation, as written, which redacts identities and examples of child abuse. If the upper chamber issues an amendment, the House will need to vote on the bill again. A move that the bipartisan co-sponsors say is a delay tactic and unnecessary.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In a statement after Tuesday\u2019s vote, congressman Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House oversight committee demanded that the Senate majority leader John Thune take up the bill \u201cimmediately\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cDonald Trump is panicking and trying to stop our investigation. We need to know what he\u2019s hiding, and what powerful men are responsible for the rape and abuse of children and women,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cAnd let\u2019s be clear \u2013 Donald Trump<\/a> has the power to release the files today. But he chooses to delay and deflect.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cNo more lies. No more secrets. We will get justice for the survivors. Release the files, NOW.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US House approves bill to force release of Epstein files in near-unanimous vote<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Cheers rang out in the chamber, when the gavel banged the vote closed.<\/p>\n Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana, a staunch ally of Donald Trump, was the sole House member to vote against the measure.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s manoeuvring to prevent a vote on the petition would not succeed, Trump reversed course and threw his support behind the effort.<\/p>\n 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 \u2013 still an if.<\/p>\n Democrats, as well as the bill\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.04 EST<\/p>\n While the House votes, the Guardian\u2019s congressional correspondent Chris Stein sends this dispatch from Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n As the House debates the bill to require release of the government\u2019s investigative files related to alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>, survivors of his abuses clapped from the chamber\u2019s gallery, prompting an admonition from the chair.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d said Democratic congresswoman Adelita Grijlava.<\/p>\n \u201cProtecting 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The group broke into applause after Grijalva \u2014 who, after a lengthy delay<\/a>, provided the final signature on a discharge petition that forced a vote on this bill \u2014 finished her remarks.<\/p>\n The Republican lawmaker presiding over the House then addressed the group, saying \u201cthe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Raskin, the Democratic congressman managing the party\u2019s debate, chimed in, saying: \u201cI\u2019ll just add, they\u2019re here as honored guests of the House, and we\u2019re delighted they\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.24 EST<\/p>\n Congressman Jamie Raskin, who has been leading the debate for Democrats<\/a> on the House floor, issued a forceful rebuttal of the Speaker\u2019s comments before the chamber moved to a vote.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want the whole truth to come out,\u201d Raskin said, arguing that it was Johnson and Republicans<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n \u201cEven the British Monarchy wouldn\u2019t put up with this,\u201d Raskin continued. \u201cHow about the American democracy? How about we say: \u2018No way we\u2019re not going to allow this cover up to go on for one day more.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>House begins vote on releasing the Epstein files<\/p>\n House members are now voting on the petition to compel the Justice Department to release the Epstein files.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.18 EST<\/p>\n 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<\/a> of caring more about smearing Trump than seeing justice for Epstein\u2019s victims.<\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t say anything for four years, but they\u2019re for maximum transparency now,\u201d Johnson said, adding that he expects the files to be released with the appropriate redactions. \u201cBut we want to do it in a respectful and careful manner so that we don\u2019t subject innocent people to further harm.\u201d<\/p>\n Many victims have urged Congress to approve the petition without delay. \u201cIt\u2019s time that we put the political agendas and party affiliations to the side. This is a human issue. This is about children,\u201d survivor Haley Robson said at the press conference. \u201cThere is no place in society for exploitation, sexual crimes or exploitation of women.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Federal judges rule that Texas can’t use new congressional maps<\/p>\n A panel of federal judges has ruled<\/a> that Texas cannot use the 2025 congressional map for the midterms. Instead, the state must use the 2021 boundaries in the upcoming election.<\/p>\n The map, drawn by the GOP lawmakers in Texas at the behest of Donald Trump<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n In today\u2019s ruling, the judges, which included a Trump appointee, said that the creation of a new map appeared unconstitutional and \u201cracially gerrymandered\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump claims bin Salman ‘knew nothing about’ murder of Khashoggi, despite US intelligence finding he approved it<\/p>\n Lucy Campbell<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Trump blasted ABC News as fake news, before contradicting US intelligence on Saudi prince\u2019s role in Khashoggi death:<\/p>\n You\u2019re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn\u2019t like that gentleman [Khashoggi] that you\u2019re talking about. Whether you like him or didn\u2019t like him, things happen. But he [bin Salman] knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that. You don\u2019t have to embarrass our guest by asking something like that.<\/p>\n However, US intelligence concluded <\/a>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\u2019s de facto ruler.<\/p>\n Follow along with the latest developments from the crown prince\u2019s visit to the White House. <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking on the House floor today, Nancy Mace \u2013 the South Carolina Republican who signed the discharge petition \u2013 spoke about her own experiences of sexual assault and domestic abuse.<\/p>\n \u201cI still don\u2019t 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,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause you come forward and because you talk about sexual assault, you are not a slut, you\u2019re not a whore, but that\u2019s how women are treated, and you\u2019re not lying.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Senate minority leader says he will try and force vote on Epstein files once House passes the bill<\/p>\n Top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, said today that \u201conce the House passes the bill to release the Epstein files,\u201d he will \u201cmove for the Senate to immediately take it up and pass it \u2013 period.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement, he added: \u201cRepublicans have spent months trying to protect Donald Trump<\/a> and hide what\u2019s in the files. Americans are tired of waiting and are demanding to see the truth. If Leader Thune tries to bury the bill, I\u2019ll stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>House begins debate on release of Epstein files<\/p>\n The US House has begun debating the bill to release the justice department files on Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thomas Massie, the Republican congressman who co-let the bipartisan discharge petition to force a vote on the House floor, said he was \u201cthankful to the three brave women: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Mace, Lauren Bobert\u201d. These are the only other GOP lawmakers who signed the petition.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have been intimidated by people in our own party,\u201d Massie said. \u201cI congratulate them for standing strong.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Meeting with Saudi crown prince underway in Oval Office<\/p>\n Lucy Campbell<\/p>\n In his opening remarks, Trump said Saudi Arabia<\/a> has agreed to invest $600bn in the US. \u201cThat number could go up a little bit higher,\u201d he added. \u201cBut I don\u2019t know, we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n Donald Trump meets with Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, 18 November 2025. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Bin Salman noted that Saudi Arabia \u201cbelieves in the future of America\u201d and is going to increase its pledge to almost $1tn of investment in the United States.<\/p>\n Trump went on to say that he and the crown prince have been \u201creally good friends for a long period of time\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Top Democrat on oversight committee says Trump ‘has the power’ to release the Epstein files<\/p>\n Speaking at a news conference on Capitol Hill, the ranking member of the House oversight committee, Robert Garcia, said that the president \u201chas the power\u201d to release the complete Epstein files, without a vote in Congress.<\/p>\n Robert Garcia speaks to members of the media outside the US Capitol, 18 November 2025. Photograph: Luke Johnson\/EPA<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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<\/a> today can bring justice for the survivors and he refuses to do so,\u201d Garcia added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Saudi crown prince arrives at White House, greeted by Trump<\/p>\n Mohammed bin Salman has arrived at the White House, met by Donald Trump<\/a> and complete with a military honor guard, a cannon salute, and a flyover by US warplanes \u2013\u00a0which included F35s. My colleague, Lucy Campbell is covering the latest at our dedicated live blog.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cPresidential Walk of Fame\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Chris_Stein.png\")
Chris Stein<\/p>\n