Congress votes to launch the Jeffrey Epstein recordsdata: What to know

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Welcome to The Logoff: After months of resistance by the Trump administration, the “Epstein recordsdata” are set to be launched to the general public.

What occurred? On Tuesday, Congress voted overwhelmingly to compel President Donald Trump’s Justice Division to launch recordsdata referring to deceased financier and onetime Trump good friend Jeffrey Epstein. Trump, regardless of earlier opposition, has stated he'll signal the invoice into legislation.

What’s the context? The near-unanimous assist in Congress belies the fact that Trump and his political allies really did not want this vote to happen ; they only ran out of the way to place it off. Sufficient members of the Home (largely Democrats, joined by a small handful of Republicans) signed a discharge petition, a congressional process to pressure a vote.

Trump threw his assist behind the invoice on the final minute on Sunday, after it grew to become clear it will go — and solely after mounting a failed full-court press to stop it arising for a vote within the first place.

What can we count on to be taught? We don’t actually know, though as my colleague Andrew Prokop reports , the DOJ has explicitly denied the existence of some paperwork, together with an alleged Epstein “shopper record.” There's a lot there, although: the total recordsdata reportedly embrace greater than 100,000 pages of supplies.

The Home invoice units a 30-day timeline for the discharge, in a “searchable and downloadable format,” of all unclassified supplies related to Epstein and his confederate Ghislaine Maxwell, although some supplies could also be withheld or redacted.

Why does this matter? No matter we be taught within the Epstein recordsdata, it’s not prone to blow the case large open; Trump’s presidency gained’t lastly collapse underneath the load of 1 scandal too many. However that doesn’t make it meaningless, both. On the very least, it’s one other blow to an administration already on its again foot, and it’s a notable break in Trump’s often iron grip over his social gathering in Congress.

And with that, it’s time to sign off…

I confess I didn't notice right now was the fortieth anniversary of the debut of the caricature “Calvin and Hobbes” till I noticed this story from NPR , that includes an archival interview with the strip’s editor, Lee Salem. As a religious fan, although, I can’t go up marking the event right here, and you may also take pleasure in Defector’s Barry Petchesky making the case for why the strip is so enduringly good, whilst an grownup. As at all times, thanks for studying and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!