Key developments: The House will vote Tuesday after 2 p.m. EST on a bill to force the release of records tied to Jeffrey Epstein, after President Trump unexpectedly backed the measure. Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna led the push and spoke with victims, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune now faces a decision on when to take the bill up in the Senate. Separately, Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over questions about Jamal Khashoggi and will host him at a black‑tie dinner; a Texas court blocked a GOP‑favored 2026 House map.
House to Vote Tuesday on Bill Releasing Jeffrey Epstein Records; Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince
Key developments: The House will vote Tuesday after 2 p.m. EST on a bill to force the release of records tied to Jeffrey Epstein, after President Trump unexpectedly backed the measure. Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna led the push and spoke with victims, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune now faces a decision on when to take the bill up in the Senate. Separately, Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over questions about Jamal Khashoggi and will host him at a black‑tie dinner; a Texas court blocked a GOP‑favored 2026 House map.
08:43 PM, 11/18/2025Politics
House to vote Tuesday on bill to release Epstein-related records
The House will take up legislation Tuesday intended to make public records tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The vote is expected to begin after 2 p.m. EST, following President Trump’s weekend reversal in which he announced his support for the measure.
Earlier, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) — who led the effort to force a floor vote — spoke alongside Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and several victims of Epstein. The event included direct criticism of the president’s prior handling of related issues.
Attention now shifts to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who will need to decide when or whether to schedule the measure for the Senate floor if it passes the House; that timing could determine its fate in the upper chamber.
Trump greets Saudi crown prince amid Khashoggi questions
At the White House on Tuesday, President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and pushed back when a reporter raised the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
"You don’t have to embarrass our guests by asking a question," Trump said.
Trump is scheduled to host the crown prince at a black‑tie dinner Tuesday evening and will join him at a business forum on Wednesday.
Other developments
Separately, a Texas court on Tuesday blocked a new GOP‑favored U.S. House map, dealing a setback to Trump and state Republicans ahead of the 2026 elections.
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