In a statement to EW, the White House responded to remarks from "The View" cohosts Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and former Trump staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin.

Get live updates and the latest news as Trump signs the bill to release the Epstein files and plans to meet with N.Y.C mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani

WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The White House quietly lobbied senators to slow-walk a vote to force the release of investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein even as President Donald Trump publicly insisted his administration had nothing to hide and urged Congress to act, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

As President Donald Trump signed the bill for his Justice Department to release the Epstein files, CNN commentator Brad Todd warns the White House and the Republican Party that delaying the release any longer will hurt them politically.

Late on the evening of November 18, the US Congress passed legislation that would force the release of the Epstein files.

President Donald Trump's administration for weeks tried to stall or head off a vote in Congress to force the release of investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, but nonetheless the measure is expected to land on his desk as soon as Wednesday.