Trump's Surprise Endorsement Shifts Republican Stance
In a dramatic political reversal, former President Donald Trump has publicly called on House Republicans to support the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, declaring it time to "move on" from the controversial issue. The sudden endorsement, delivered on Sunday night, represents a significant shift from Trump's previous position and appears to have united previously divided Republicans.
Trump characterised the ongoing investigations into Epstein's alleged network of powerful associates as a distraction from his presidential accomplishments and economic agenda. In his statement, he insisted that lawmakers "can have whatever they are legally entitled to" while urging his party to "get BACK ON POINT" with other pressing matters.
Potential Unanimous Vote and Political Fallout
Following Trump's intervention, some lawmakers now anticipate a rare unanimous House vote on legislation that would compel the Justice Department to release its documents on the late convicted sex offender. According to The New York Times, this vote could occur as early as Tuesday.
The political landscape had been markedly different before Trump's endorsement. The former president had previously labelled Republican representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene a "traitor" and Thomas Massie a "loser" after both signalled their intention to join Democratic colleagues in pushing for the files' publication.
Security Concerns and International Developments
The political feud has escalated beyond Capitol Hill, with security concerns emerging for Representative Greene. Police in Rome, Georgia confirmed to Newsweek that they have received two email assassination threats targeting Greene and her family. This development follows Greene's claims over the weekend that private security firms had contacted her with safety warnings.
Greene directly attributed these security threats to Trump's "unwarranted and vicious attacks," suggesting they could lead to "serious attacks" against her and her family. She further reported that an office building housing one of her construction companies received a pipe bomb threat.
Meanwhile, in other political developments, the Kremlin expressed hope for renewed talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that while timing remains uncertain, "we are all interested in these conditions occurring sooner rather than later."
The Trump administration also announced its intention to designate Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation, alleging the cartel is led by President Nicolas Maduro and other government officials. This designation will take effect on November 24.
Domestically, the Federal Aviation Administration lifted its flight reduction emergency order at 6 a.m. on Monday morning, ending restrictions implemented during the recent government shutdown. The shutdown, described as the longest in U.S. history, concluded last week.
