Epstein files create drama in Congress

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The president is expected to sign into law Friday a package of cuts passed by Congress late Thursday night but the talk in Washington is still dominated by the Epstein files and how the president is responding to the controversy.

The spending cuts cancel billions in federal funding.

Debate over the records related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case held up the House late Thursday from its vote to cut $9 billion from public media and foreign aid.

"We were working on cutting fraud waste and abuse and wasteful spending and they kept trying to hijack that and derail that and turn it into Epstein hearings. That's not what the subject was,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

The bill ultimately passed after midnight, and Republicans say it cuts waste.

"We must reign in irresponsible agencies,” said Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.).

Democrats say it will hurt America’s standing on the world stage.

"This is not an America first bill it's a China first bill,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

However, controversy over Epstein dominated the debate.

While the House debated, the Wall Street Journal reported President Trump sent a suggestive letter to Epstein for his birthday in 2003.

The president denies that and says he's suing the Journal, but he is directing more information to come out from grand jury testimony, a small portion of the files related to the case.

Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern says that's not enough.

"You either vote to release the files, or you vote to bury them,” said McGovern.

Republicans put forward a resolution calling for the Justice Department to release credible information, but Democrats note that doesn't have the force of law.

The president has until midnight to sign the bill into law, or the cuts won't take effect.