Good Wednesday evening. In this edition: Epstein victims demand DOJ release more files; Lawmakers try to ban congressional stock trading; and C-SPAN heads to YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV.
Plus, Harvard, Florida vaccines, censure and Hellfighters.
Epstein Files
Victims of Jeffrey Epstein appeared at a press conference on Capitol Hill to lend their support to a legislative effort to compel the release of more documents related to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
The press conference added to the escalating fight in Washington over how to handle the politically explosive issue that's pitted Democrats and some rank-and-file Republicans against the White House and Republican leaders.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has a pending resolution that would force the Justice Department and FBI to release all relevant files — but the Trump administration and GOP leadership are in fierce opposition.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called Rep. Massie's effort "moot and unnecessary," noting that an investigation had already been launched by the Oversight Committee, which released a tranche of documents on Tuesday.
"They're already producing and putting out there the documents that are uncovered," he told reporters, adding that the Massie resolution wouldn't adequately protect victims.
"The White House is in full compliance. The administration is willfully complying with the subpoenas because they want maximum transparency as well."
The Oversight Committee's document release provided little new information and was heavily redacted, failing to appease those demanding full transparency.
The speaker also included in a rule vote this afternoon a symbolic resolution offering support for the Oversight investigation.
Rep. Massie wants an up or down vote on his resolution and filed a discharge petition on Tuesday to try to bring it to the floor by circumventing GOP leadership.
"I hope my colleagues are listening to this press conference," the congressman said. "I want them to think, what if this was your sister, what if this was your daughter?"
The Kentucky Republican must obtain 218 signatures on the petition to get a vote on his resolution, which means he needs at least six Republicans, assuming all 212 Democrats back it.
Four Republicans have so far signed the petition: Reps. Massie, Nancy Mace (SC), Lauren Boebert (CO) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA).
A handful of others, including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (FL) and Victoria Spartz (IN), have signaled their openness but have not yet signed onto the petition.
President Trump continued to dismiss calls for more information about the Justice Department investigation, branding the issue a "Democrat hoax."
"They're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president."
Haley Robson, another Epstein survivor, pushed back on the president's assertion during the press conference.
"I would like Donald J. Trump and every person in America and around the world to humanize us, to see us for who we are and to hear us for what we have to say," she said.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill that would prohibit members of Congress and their immediate family members from trading individual stocks, an issue that's picked up steam in recent years.
The legislation, titled the Restore Trust in Congress Act, combines several previously introduced bills intended to crack down on insider trading.
It would require lawmakers to sell all individual stocks within 180 days and force newly elected members to divest before being sworn in.
Those who fail to divest would face a fine equal to 10% of the value of the asset.
While previous efforts have failed to gain traction, this bill was put together by a working group of Democrats and Republicans and has support from across the political spectrum.
"It is one of those rare moments where I feel like Washington is working the way it's supposed to work, and it feels foreign, and it feels alien," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said. "But I also think it is proof that things can work here."
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and President Trump have all previously made statements supporting such a ban.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has also threatened to try to force a vote on the bill through a discharge petition if the speaker doesn't bring it to the floor.
C-SPAN announced that its three public affairs channels will launch this fall on YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, two of the nation's most popular streaming services.
"C-SPAN's mission is to bring American democracy unfiltered to as many viewers as possible. Today's announcement guarantees that millions more Americans will now have access to their government in action," C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist said.
The partnerships expand access to C-SPAN's unfiltered coverage of the U.S. government for millions of subscribers nationwide — and was hailed by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.
"For decades, C-SPAN has connected Congress with the American people, providing the public with a front-row seat to see their government at work," Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said. "Glad to see YouTube and Hulu listened to Chuck Grassley and me and are taking the step to carry C-SPAN's live coverage!"
"Great to see this move from @YouTubeTV and @Hulu," added Sen. Todd Young (R-IN). "Giving more Americans access to this vital window into Congress is good for our country and the functioning of our federal government."
C-SPAN is a privately funded non-profit television network, operating free of government money and supported primarily through license fees paid by cable, satellite and streaming companies.
A federal judgeruled the White House broke the law when it froze around $200 billion in research funds for Harvard University over alleged campus antisemitism, saying it amounted to "retaliation, unconstitutional conditions, and unconstitutional coercion." President Trump pulled the funds in April after the school refused his demands to end DEI programs and screen international students for ideological biases. The ruling is expected to be appealed.
Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida's surgeon general, announced plans to end all state vaccine mandates, including requirements for public school enrollment, arguing that they were "wrong and drip with disdain and slavery." The move, which was endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), would make Florida the first state to fully withdraw from all vaccine mandates.
The Housevoted215–207 to table Rep. Clay Higgins's (R-LA) resolution to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) and remove her from the Homeland Security Committee over her May scuffle outside an immigration detention center. Five Republicans — Reps. Don Bacon (NE), Mike Flood (NE), Dave Joyce (OH), Mike Turner (OH) and David Valadao (CA) — joined all Democrats to kill the resolution.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethhonored the Harlem Hellfighters at a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, paying tribute to their bravery and sacrifice during both world wars. The Harlem Hellfighters, a regiment for the New York Army National Guard, is known for being one of the first African American infantries, spending more time in continuous combat than any other American unit.
For your radar…
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary, appears Thursday before the Senate Finance Committee. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN3 at 9:30am ET.
Stephen Miran, the president's nominee to join the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, testifies Thursday at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee. Watch LIVE online at 10am ET.
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