Trump Reverses Course to Back Release of Epstein Files

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Voices are powerful things.

Caitlin McCabe (0:02)

At Vanguard, investors are also owners, and their voices are heard.

SPEAKER_3 (0:07)

And now with Investor Choice, they have an even greater voice when investing.

Caitlin McCabe (0:10)

It's just another reason millions of investors have turned to Vanguard for 50 years.

SPEAKER_1 (0:15)

50 million investors, 50 million voices.

Caitlin McCabe (0:18)

Vanguard. Vanguard is owned by its funds, which are owned by Vanguard's fund shareholder clients. To learn more, visit vanguard.com. All investing is subject to risk. Vanguard Marketing Corporation distributor, figure as of January 2025 President Trump reverses course and backs a house vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Plus, an immigration crackdown in North Carolina intensifies over the weekend. And France is scrambling to protect its valuables after thieves make off with more than its crown jewels.

Stacy Meichtry (0:51)

Museums, by their very nature, advertise what sorts of valuables they have on hand. And so this makes for very easy soft targets for organized criminals.

Caitlin McCabe (1:01)

It's Monday, November 17th. I'm Caitlin McCabe for The Wall Street Journal and here's the AM Edition of What's News. The top headlines and business stories moving your world today. We begin today in Washington, where President Trump has thrown in the towel on trying to dissuade House Republicans from backing the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On social media late yesterday, Trump said Republicans should vote for the measure because, quote, we have nothing to hide, and it's time to move on from this Democratic hoax. His message was a sharp departure from previous efforts to deter his party from supporting the vote, with Trump saying on Air Force One as recently as Friday that Democrats want to waste people's time, and, quote, some of the dumber Republicans like that. But officials told us that his push to dissuade the GOP wasn't getting results and risked calling even more attention to the matter. In an appearance on ABC's This Week, House Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has been seeking a vote on the files, speculated that there could be 100 or more Republicans who support the measure. He said he's hoping for a supermajority of two-thirds of the House that could override a Trump veto if needed.

SPEAKER_3 (2:17)

I would remind my Republican colleagues who are deciding how to vote, Donald Trump can protect you in red districts right now by giving you an endorsement, but in 2030, he's not going to be the president and you will have voted to protect pedophiles if you don't vote to release these files and the president can't protect you then. This vote, the record of this vote, will last longer than Donald Trump's presidency.

Caitlin McCabe (2:41)

The vote to compel the Justice Department to turn over its Epstein-related files is set for this week. And as Washington reporter Scott Patterson explains, it's shaping up to be one of the first major tests of Republican loyalty for the president, who has kept an iron grip over his party since taking office in January.

Scott Patterson (2:59)

House Republicans, it looks like there will be enough who are going to vote for this that it will pass and from there it will go to the Senate. The Senate is a bigger question. It's not clear whether there are enough Republicans in the Senate who will support the measure. It could easily fail.

Caitlin McCabe (3:18)

Scott added that if it does pass the Senate, the measure would then go to Trump's desk for signature.

Turning now to Charlotte, North Carolina, where an immigration crackdown intensified over the weekend, with authorities arresting 81 people on Saturday alone. That's according to US. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who said more detentions are planned in the coming days. He said on social media that number included many who, quote, had a significant criminal and immigration history. Protesters marched through North Carolina's largest city Saturday, and the city's mayor, Vi Lyles, a Democrat, said the operation was, quote, causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty in our community. Carlos Magaña, a North Carolina resident, said many people are afraid to go outside.

Carlos Magaña (4:09)

I've been in contact with people who, a lot of friends and family and acquaintances, who say that they're not going out. They're having their kids, who are citizens, go and pick up their clothes and food for them. It's terrifying to pretty much know that at any moment, a federal agent can just come out and abuse you just because of the way you look.

Caitlin McCabe (4:25)

Bovino has led similar immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles and Chicago, as the Trump administration has stepped up enforcement in several Democratic-run cities. And the Federal Aviation Administration is lifting flight restrictions stemming from the government shutdown, ending the 6 percent traffic cut implemented last week and clearing the way for normal operations to resume at US airports after weeks of disruption. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Brian Bedford said that the flight restrictions would end at 6 a.m. Eastern this morning. The move comes after the FAA reviewed safety trends and saw improving staffing levels. However, airlines have warned that it could take several days for full operations to resume and for flight crews to get back into place. Coming up, President Trump signals he may be open to talks with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as military buildup in the region grows. Plus, how the recent robbery at the Louvre points to a much bigger crisis for France. That and more after the break.