Trump latest: 'In effect, Epstein files have been released' - after 20,000 pages published

Today was shaping up to be all about the House vote on the end of the US government shutdown in Washington.

But the release of new emails from the Epstein files, followed by the release of more than 20,000 extra pages, has overshadowed that debate.

It's just after 21.00 UK time - here's a quick rundown of today's key developments:

What happened?

• In the early afternoon, UK time, the Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee published new email correspondence from Jeffrey Epstein, which they said linked Donald Trump to the disgraced financier;
• The Republicans retaliated shortly after by releasing more than 20,000 pages from Epstein's files, accusing the Democrats of "cherry-picking" their documents.

What's in the emails released by the Democrats?

One email alleges that Donald Trump spent hours with a victim.

In another, Epstein writes of Trump "of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine [sic] to stop", according to the release by the Democrats.

How has Trump responded?

Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and has previously called the allegations against him a "hoax" - and he did again today, adding that they're a political "trap" set by Democrats and a "deflection" from the US shutdown.

The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the released emails were an attempt to "smear" Trump. She later added that they proved "absolutely nothing".

What do we know about the larger batch of files?

Newsrooms around the world continue to trawl through the documents in search of new revelations.

• So far, it's clear the files contain emails, articles, images, and a few videos;
• There is at least one email from former British ambassador Peter Mandelson - see our previous post. 
• Trump also gets mentioned;
• The docs also contain new revelations about, and email exchanges with, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Epstein appears to confirm that the King's brother had his picture taken with underage victim Virginia Giuffre, which the former prince had denied. 

'In effect, Epstein files have been released'

"In effect, the Epstein files, as they have become known, appear today to have been released," our US correspondent Mark Stone summarised.

It could mark a momentous day for the ongoing investigations into Epstein's links with the Washington establishment after years of conspiracy theories and demands for the release of all files.

Watch: Mark Stone explains the Epstein files release

But is this over?

Don't bet on it - as we've been reporting, Democrats continue to call on Trump to "release the files" - despite today's massive release of documents.

Their argument is that there are more revelations to come, with more files yet to be published (see our 20.17 post for more on this).

More to bring you now from the tranche of Epstein files released earlier today.

According to the documents, Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK ambassador to the US in September due to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, was still in contact with the convicted sex offender in 2016.

Bear in mind, Mandelson lost his job after Keir Starmer learned about emails between him and Epstein from 2005 to 2010 - including after Epstein's conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. 

Mandelson's links to Epstein were known before he was appointed as ambassador but the government argued it did not know how long their association had continued.

Back-and-forth emails, revealed in today's release of Epstein files, apparently show an exchange between Epstein and Mandelson dated 6 November 2016 - six years on from the last known contact.

In one, sent on 6 November 2016 at 19.15, Epstein said: 

63 years old. . you made it

Mandelson's birthday was in October, a few weeks before. 

In a response less than 90 minutes later, according to the documents, Mandelson says:

Just. I have decided to extend my life by spending more of it in the US

Epstein then replies, two days before the 2016 US presidential election:

in the donald white house

Epstein goes on to say: 

trump/ and having agreat [sic] deal of fun. In hindsight. you were right about staying away from andrew. I was right in your staying with rinaldo

And according to the documents, Mandelson responds:

Of course, donald in WH. Will he get there? Yes, without Andrew it would not have gone nuclear. Did you advise me to stay with R ? Such a handful but loyal and never embarrassing.

In another earlier email chain, from 2011, Epstein forwards to Mandelson a request for an interview from BBC Radio 4's Today programme sent to his attorney, Jack Goldberger.

The broadcaster expresses an interest in speaking to him about "stories which are circulating, however inaccurately, about both him and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York".

Mandelson replies: "No!!"

In May this year, Paste BN asked Mandelson if he stayed at Epstein's flat, to which he replied: "I'm not answering any questions about him. My knowledge of him is something I regret, I wish I'd never met him in the first place." 

Asked why he had an association with Epstein while he was in jail, Mandelson replied: "Why did many people meet him? He was a prolific networker. And I wish I'd never met him in the first place."

Read more here on the former UK ambassador to Washington and how he lost his job earlier this year...

Lisa Bloom, a lawyer representing a number of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, told our chief presenter Mark Austin earlier that the Epstein emails released today are "disturbing".

She claimed the emails amounted to Epstein "pointing the finger at Donald Trump... from the grave".

But she adds that this "drip, drip, drip" of emails is "ridiculous" and a "slap in the face" to the victims of Epstein.

"Of course all of the files should be released," she says - echoing calls from Democrats to publish all the documents, despite the mass release of 20,000 pages by Republicans today (see previous post).

Watch her speaking here...

For his part, Trump has denied any wrongdoing, or knowing about Epstein's crimes at the time. And, as we've been reporting, the White House has today said the files released "prove absolutely nothing" - apart from the US president's innocence.

As Austin points out, the White House also says Virginia Giuffre herself - a victim of Epstein - apparently praised Trump's professionalism and behaviour.

A huge number of the so-called "Epstein files" have been released today.

As we heard earlier from our US correspondent Mark Stone: "In effect, the Epstein files, as they have become known, appear today to have been released," he summarised. 

"Maybe not all of them, but a huge number."

It started with Democrats releasing three Epstein emails featuring comments about Donald Trump.

Then, Republicans retaliated - publishing 20,000 more pages, and saying: "You deserve the full truth."

Despite this, though, Democrats have united around a single attack line:

"Release the Epstein files."

They're arguing there's more to learn, and there are more files to come - here's what some of them have been saying...

Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar said: "Americans deserve the full truth. The administration needs to keep its promise and release the Epstein files."

JB Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, says Trump was being "silent because he knows what's inside. It's time to release the files."

Meanwhile, congressman Robert Garcia, who leads the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee which released the files today, took a leaf from Trump's own book - turning to all caps.

He posted: "Madam press secretary, if you are concerned about what we released, you can easily fix this. 

"Have your boss RELEASE THE FILES TODAY."

Here's another X post from Garcia, which called out Trump's response on Truth Social...

California governor Gavin Newsom seemingly didn't get the memo, only asking JD Vance, the VP, for comment and saying: "Colour me shocked."

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, also on the committee, called the emails "damning".

She added: "It's clear Trump knew about Epstein's abuse. 

"It's time to release the full Epstein files NOW, hold a hearing with survivors, and end this White House cover-up once and for all."

A bit more to bring you from the US president now.

He's repeated much of what we heard earlier from him, and the wider White House, in a new post on his Truth Social.

Trump has again claimed the Democrats are using the Epstein emails "to try and deflect from their massive failures".

This fits in with what we've heard from his administration so far this evening, who are trying to make the message of the night the end of the government shutdown - which both parties blame each other for.

Meanwhile, the Democrats want to talk about Epstein.

Our US correspondent David Blevins says that the White House is sticking to its guns in its defence over allegations related to late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking to presenter Darren McCaffrey, Blevins runs through some of the emails and points out that the context of much of the correspondence is lost.

However, he also explains how ending the government shutdown might actually cause more problems for the White House in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.

Watch his analysis here...

Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democratic minority in the House of Representatives, has been holding a news conference regarding the upcoming vote on the government funding bill this evening - as US political rows continue beyond the Epstein story.

Jeffries was speaking in front of the Congress building, surrounded by his Democrat peers.

The minority leader says the House Democrats were here "on the Capitol steps to reiterate our strong opposition to the spending bill".

Jeffries says it failed to address the "healthcare crisis" and extend tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which are due to expire by the end of the year.

The tax credits at the heart of the ACA reduce health insurance premiums for low- and moderate-income families.

Democrats had refused to support the government funding bill as it didn't contain funding to extend the tax credit, which culminated in the ongoing government shutdown.

Several Democratic senators had crossed party lines and voted in favour of the bill on Monday, however. 

If the bill also passes the House today, it will effectively end the longest shutdown in US history.

Jeffries had previously vowed to "fight" the bill in the House.

An apparent email exchange between Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released today.

The email chain from March 2011, which also includes Ghislaine Maxwell, was published by the US House Oversight Committee today.

Maxwell was initially forwarded a press inquiry from the Mail on Sunday from somebody named Mark Cohen, who told her: “FYI, following up on my email of this morning. Again, I have no intention of responding unless you direct otherwise.”

After the email was forwarded from Maxwell to Epstein, and then from Epstein to somebody listed as "The Duke" on 4 March 2011, Andrew appears to respond: 

"What? I don’t know any of this. How are you responding?"

The chain shows that Epstein responds: 

"Just got it two minutes ago. I've asked g (sic) lawyers to send a letter. Not sure… it's so salcisous (sic) and ridiculous, im (sic) not sure how to respond, the only person she didn't have sex with was Elvis."

Andrew then appears to reply to Epstein, saying: 

"Please make sure that every statement or legal letter states clearly that I am NOT involved and that I knew and know NOTHING about any of these allegations.

"I can't take any more of this my end."

Andrew continues to face scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein but has always vigorously denied all the accusations against him in relation to the deceased paedophile.

See our 19.10 post for more on Epstein and the former duke.

Hot on the heels of hearing from the White House, Donald Trump himself has now spoken up about the latest release of Epstein emails.

The US president claims that the "Jeffrey Epstein hoax" is a "trap" set by Democrats.

"Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap," he says in a post on Truth Social.

He adds:

"There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else, and any Republicans involved should be focused only on opening up our Country, and fixing the massive damage caused by the Democrats!"

His message echoes what we heard from the press secretary  Karoline Leavitt just now - trying to keep the focus on the government shutdown, and not Epstein.

Read his full post here...

During his election campaign, Trump vowed to release the Epstein files in full, but since coming into office, has faced crticism over his transparency on the issue and his past connections to Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein appears to confirm Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had his picture taken with Virginia Giuffre, in one of the files newly released today.

Epstein claimed several of his staff had their picture taken with the former duke, according to the documents published today. 

In an email from Epstein to a reporter in July 2011, he said: 

"Now that strauss kan (sic) girl will be shown to be a total liar.

"Maybe your paper should jump on and show that (redacted)'s allegations re andrew (sic) are the same, she also accused numerous people of having sex with her, dersh, ehud, etc. 

"Not one paper had the balls to question her credibility."

After the journalist confirmed they would be interested in the story, a further email from Epstein on the same day read: 

"The girl has fled the country with an outstanding arrest warrant. The da (sic) after she accused others, said in writing that she has no credibility, she was never 15 years old working for me, her story made it seem like she first worked for trump (sic) at that age and was met by ghislaine maxwell (sic).

"Total horseshit, the daily mail (sic) paid her money, they admitted it, with the statement that it took money to coax out the truth.

"Yes she was on my plane, and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew, as many of my employees have.

"I have never misled you, this girl is a total liar, they (sic) authorities should check her australian (sic) immigration form, you could talk to dershowitz (sic). I will ask if they will cooperate – Prince people."

Andrew, the King's brother, continues to face scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein but has always vigorously denied all the accusations against him in relation to the deceased paedophile.

In an infamous Newsnight interview, Andrew said a photo showing him with Giuffre wasn't genuine.