Congress to vote on releasing more Epstein files. Live updates

WASHINGTON – After months of pressure from many Americans, including supporters of President Donald Trump, Democrats and even some Republicans, Congress is officially taking a vote on the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday is set to consider a bill that would compel the Department of Justice to release as much information as legally possible about the federal government's investigations into the late disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker.

It's arguably the first major defection from Trump's wishes by congressional Republicans since the president began his second term in office. After initially opposing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, Trump urged House GOP lawmakers over the weekend to support the bill. Then, on Monday, he indicated he'd sign the legislation if it passes both chambers of Congress.

The president's about-face came amid mounting political pressure from not only his base, but also conservative lawmakers typically loath to disagree with the leader of their party. Support for the bill has been steadily growing, despite Trump's past ties to Epstein becoming clearer amid new revelations (the president has consistently denied he knew of Epstein's alleged abuse).

Schumer to have Senate to take up Epstein files bill ‘immediately’

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said Tuesday that he will move for the Senate to “immediately” take up the bill to release the Epstein files after it’s expected to pass in the House.

"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,” Schumer said in a statement. "If Leader Thune tries to bury the bill, I'll stop him."

– Rebecca Morin

Johnson defends Congress releasing Epstein files rather than Trump

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended President Donald Trump for not ordering the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files, saying that he and the president “were insistent upon using the processes of Congress.”

Johnson said that the Oversight Committee would have been the appropriate process to getting the files released, saying that it would have been more comprehensive than the discharge petition that will be voted on Tuesday.

“We want it to be done the right way,” Johnson said. “We want to do it in a way that doesn't jeopardize our legal system and doesn't inflict more harm on victims. And the president is resolute on that, as we have been.”

− Rebecca Morin

Johnson says he’ll vote for the Epstein files bill

House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday said he will vote to move the Epstein files bill forward despite deriding it as a “political weapon to distract” by Democratic lawmakers.

“I’m going to vote to move this forward,” he said at his daily news conference on Capitol Hill. “I think it could be close to a unanimous vote because everybody here, all the Republicans, want to go on the record to show their maximum transparency.”

Johnson criticized Democrats for pushing for the release of the files, saying that records related to Epstein could have been released under former President Joe Biden’s administration.

“They’re trying to somehow tie President Trump to the scandal,” Johnson said. “President Trump has nothing to do with it… He has nothing to hide and that’s clearly what they’ve been trying to do.”

− Rebecca Morin

When will the House vote on releasing Epstein files?

The House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act is expected to begin on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at around 2 p.m. ET, according to an update from Rep. Katherine Clark, the minority whip.

If the bill passes, it will go to the Senate, where it will also need to pass. Once both chambers of Congress pass the bill, it will go to Trump to be signed into law.

Tune into USA TODAY's live stream on YouTube to watch the House vote in real time.

-Melina Khan

What’s prompting Epstein advocacy six years later?

Lisa Phillips, who identifies as a survivor of Epstein’s abuse, told USA TODAY that many women started coming forward about their experiences after Epstein died in 2019.

“There’s something that happens when your abuser dies,” Phillips said. “You’re free.”

--Erin Mansfield

Epstein accusers share childhood photos of themselves

Women who say they were abused by Epstein are holding up photos of themselves when they were at the age that he started abusing them.

The ages include 14, 15, 16 and 17.

“Someone has to protect these children,” said Wendy Avis. “We deserved it then. We deserve it now.”

-Erin Mansfield

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene puts accountability on DOJ

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she expects a near-unanimous vote in the House to release the Epstein files, but she said the fight won’t be over.

She referenced language in the bill that would allow the Department of Justice to withhold documents that are relevant to an ongoing investigation.

“The real test will be will the Department of Justice release the files, or will it all remain tied up in an investigation,” Greene said.

She also questioned whether a list of Epstein accomplices will come out, mentioning a list that survivors have created and are holding privately “because of their fear in their heart.”

“Will that list of names come out?” she asked. “That’s the real test.”

-Erin Mansfield

Rep. Ro Khanna calls for shunning of Epstein’s associates

Rep. Ro Khanna, the Democrat from California who is co-sponsoring the bill to force the release of the Epstein files, said people associated with Epstein should not be honored in our society.

“There should be no buildings named after these people in the Epstein class,” Khanna said at a news conference Tuesday morning outside the Capitol building. “There should be no scholarships named after them.

“Many of the survivors will tell you these people still are celebrated in our society,” he added. “That’s disgusting. There needs to be accountability.”

−Erin Mansfield

Larry Summers says he's stepping back from public commitments over ties to Epstein

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard University President Larry Summers said Monday that he would be stepping back from public commitments after recently released emails showed he regularly corresponded with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A trove of more than 20,000 pages of emails released by the House Oversight Committee on Nov. 12 revealed that Summers sought relationship advice in 2019 from the disgraced financier.

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused,” the Harvard Crimson quoted Summers as saying in a statement Monday. “I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.”

Summers, who served as Treasury secretary to Bill Clinton, had been a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. A spokesman for the liberal policy group said in a statement that Summers' was ending his CAP fellowship. He also serves as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard's Kennedy School, where he will continue teaching.

−Francesca Chambers

Trump when asked about Epstein: 'Quiet, piggy'

President Donald Trump told a reporter "quiet, piggy" while speaking with members of the media on Air Force One on Friday about the Epstein files.

In video footage of a gaggle with the press on November 14 released by the White House, Trump says, "Quiet, quiet piggy," as a female reporter, standing off camera, begins to ask if there was anything "incriminating" in Epstein's emails. The president then appears to wave a finger in her face.

The video is making rounds on social media Tuesday morning after People Magazine published an article about the exchange.

−Sarah D. Wire

Epstein accuser Alicia Arden begs Congress to release Epstein files

Alicia Arden, who said she was assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein in 1997 in a Santa Monica hotel, begged members of Congress to vote to release the Epstein files.

"Speaking as a victim, I beg you to release these files, once and for all," Arden told reporters at a news conference Monday. "There is no valid reason not to do so. This should be a really easy bi-partisan issue. Why would there be a single 'No' vote?"

Arden said the more accusers are denied the information in the files the more they assume politicians are trying to hide the information.

She said releasing the files will expose “who else helped Epstein and who else victimized so many children and adults.”

Johnson says he talked with Trump 'quite a bit' about Epstein controversy

House Speaker Mike Johnson told CNN on Monday he'd spoken with Trump "quite a bit" recently about the bill to authorize the full release of the Epstein files.

Johnson said his support for the bill, expected to pass the House Tuesday, will be conditioned upon whether or not the Senate amends it to better protect victims' information from being disclosed to the public.

"That's part of the problem," he said, adding Trump has "never had anything to hide."

–Zachary Schermele

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Congress to vote on releasing more Epstein files. Live updates

Reporting by Zachary Schermele, Sarah D. Wire, Francesca Chambers and Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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