Congress
Schumer calls out DOJ for not providing unredacted Epstein contacts
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday blasted the Justice Department for not providing Congress with an unredacted report of political leaders referenced in documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a post on X, Schumer accused the Department of Justice of “lawlessness” as he vowed to “ensure all the files come out.”
“Trump’s DOJ has failed to submit a report to Congress, which is required to include a list of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the released materials, without redactions,” Schumer said. “What are they trying to hide?”
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
While the DOJ released thousands of documents in several waves last month in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, many were heavily redacted and some were deleted from the department’s website after initially being posted. Friday was the deadline for the Justice Department to explain the redactions.
“It’s been 17 DAYS since the Trump DOJ first broke the law and failed to release all the Epstein files,” Schumer said. “It’s been 14 DAYS since Trump’s DOJ released anything at all – with the DOJ doing everything in its power to delay and obfuscate.”
The Justice Department last month said it had uncovered more than a million additional documentspotentially related to Epstein and that it may take “a few more weeks” before all could be released.
Congress
House Democrats eye Venezuela war powers vote
House Democrats are making a fresh attempt to rein in President Donald Trump on Venezuela, plotting to force a vote on a war powers resolution in the coming weeks.
The resolution is likely to be similar to one that was introduced last year as the military began to marshal forces in the Caribbean. That measure was narrowly defeated in the GOP-controlled House. Democrats are hopeful they can garner more support from Republicans following the weekend operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Rules Committee Democrat who co-authored the original measure, said he envisioned “something similar to what we did last time, maybe with a couple of minor adjustments.”
He and other top Democrats privately huddled Tuesday evening as they planned a way forward. Some Democrats are privately concerned that introducing a war powers measure that is broadly worded could fail and give the impression that the House is giving Trump permission to take further action in Venezuela.
Democratic leaders are involving lawmakers with military backgrounds such as Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) as they plan their response, according to Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the top Foreign Affairs Committee Democrat. He said he expects “very little” to change from last year’s measure.
Congress
Warren cuts checks to state Democratic parties
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is donating $400,000 to 23 state Democratic parties in an effort to fund Democratic infrastructure ahead of the 2026 midterms.
In an interview, the Massachusetts Democrat called the “early money” investment “crucial” for state parties. She’s urging fellow Democrats to follow her lead on donating now because “the best time to do it is January, not waiting until next October.”
The 23 states are ones with competitive congressional or statewide races in the 2026 midterms, and include Maine, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.
“They need the resources to build out infrastructure that all of our Democratic candidates will need to win in November,” Warren said. “They need money now to hire staff, recruit volunteers, knock on doors, make calls, do all the things that make Democrats competitive in these elections.”
She’s also raised more than $1.1 million for candidates this cycle, while weighing in on a handful of contested primaries.
Warren, a longtime progressive champion, is urging candidates to focus their campaign messaging on “the high costs that families are struggling with every day” and “make it clear that we have solutions and that we will fight to deliver real change.”
In 2018, Warren also donated $250,000 to state parties, a sign of her early presidential primary preparations ahead of the 2020 campaign. But when asked if the same applied to this year’s investment, Warren said, “no.”
“Democrats need to win elections everywhere, and I am 100 percent committed to making that happen in November 2026,” she said.
Congress
Capitol agenda: The House GOP’s nerve-wracking return
The start of the second session of the 119th Congress isn’t going as planned for House Republicans.
First, the GOP Conference’s long-planned, day-long policy retreat Tuesday at the Kennedy Center — intended to build unity around a legislative agenda in a midterm election year — was shaken by news of Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s (R-Calif.) unexpected death and Rep. Jim Baird’s (R-Ind.) hospitalization from a car accident.
It brought into stark relief the major math challenges House Republicans now face. LaMalfa’s passing brings the balance of the House to 218-213. And as long as Baird is out recovering, Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to lose only a single GOP vote on party-line legislative business on the chamber floor.
“We keep saying we are one breath away from the minority — that’s more true today than ever,” said one House Republican granted anonymity to speak candidly about the mood.
— The numbers game: Johnson’s margins could be a major problem for Wednesday’s vote to move forward with consideration of a “minibus” funding package covering Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water and Interior-Environment — if the measure makes it to the floor at all.
Rules ultimately recessed Tuesday night without approving the rule to allow for floor debate on the funding bill after Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and other conservatives revolted over some of the earmarks for projects in Democratic districts and states.
The panel is expected to reconvene Wednesday morning to discuss a leadership-backed compromise, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss the plans — though it wasn’t immediately clear what resolution could satisfy Roy’s demands without alienating Democrats whose support will be key in the Senate.
— Health care: Republicans who hoped a speech from Donald Trump at the Tuesday retreat would bring messaging clarity to their position on health care policy also had their dreams quickly dashed as the president suggested the GOP ought to be “flexible” when it comes to federal funding for abortion.
It caused an uproar among conservatives who insist any agreement to extend lapsed Affordable Care Act subsidies must include language banning the use of federal funds for abortions — while Democrats say abortion restrictions are a nonstarter.
Republicans will have to soon decide what compromises they’re willing to make. The House is set to take a procedural vote Wednesday on whether to move forward with legislation that would revive the enhanced ACA subsidies for three years, which Congress let expire in December.
The bill is expected to pass the House on Thursday with support from all Democrats and a handful of Republicans. Then, senators will have to make the next move.
What else we’re watching:
— More Venezuela briefings: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine will brief all lawmakers on the Venezuela operation Wednesday morning — first in the Senate, then in the House.
— Appropriations movement: Congress has just over three weeks to pass the remaining spending bills needed to avoid another shutdown.
If lawmakers can pass the Energy-Water, Interior-Environment and Commerce-Justice-Science funding measure by early next week, appropriators are tentatively planning to move two more spending packages. The first, according to Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine), would include Homeland, State-Foreign Operations and Financial Services. A final minibus could contain Defense, Labor-HHS-Education and Transportation-HUD.
Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
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