Lawmakers press for missing Trump material in Epstein files to be released

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Happy Friday! Against all better judgment, I am determined to find one of these Dunkin’ 48-ounce coffee buckets. I bet it would pair nicely with its Munchkin bucket…

Bill Clinton’s highly anticipated Epstein deposition

Bill Clinton’s highly anticipated Epstein deposition

Missing Trump material in Epstein files raises eyebrows

Missing Trump material in Epstein files raises eyebrows

Trump visits Texas days before GOP primary showdown

Trump visits Texas days before GOP primary showdown

Explaining today’s big AI, Pentagon deadline

Explaining today’s big AI, Pentagon deadline

The big Epstein file controversy this week:

It’s taken journalists and researchers quite some time to pore over the more than 3 million pages of documents relating to the Jeffrey Epstein files that were released in January.

Well, an independent journalist noticed that some potentially important documents are missing from the files — and they appear to involve President Trump.

It’s a complicated story, but The Hill’s Niall Stanage posted a very helpful explainer. A woman accused Trump in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in the 1980s when she was a minor. The FBI interviewed her four times. Documents for three of the four interviews are missing from the released files.

^ A few important caveats: Her allegation is uncorroborated. Plus, the president has denied any wrongdoing with Epstein and says their friendship ended decades ago. The Guardian reported it reviewed the missing documents, adding the woman’s claims “at times appear outlandish.”

This has gotten a lot of attention in Washington: The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the White House deny hiding any documents for nefarious reasons. However, that hasn’t stopped critics and others from demanding answers.

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that Republican senators want the DOJ to release all Epstein investigation files that mention Trump’s name. And Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has vowed to use any tactic to require the missing documents to be released.

It’s worth reading Stanage’s piece on this new Epstein file controversy: ‘The big new controversy over the Epstein files, explained’

💬 Follow today’s live blog

Former President Clinton sits with House investigators today for his closed-door deposition in the investigation into Epstein.

What we know about today’s deposition: Clinton said he “did nothing wrong” and “had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing.” 🔎 Read Clinton’s opening statement

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had her deposition on Thursday. Both had been threatened with contempt charges if they did not agree to participate in testimony.

What we know about Bill Clinton’s Epstein ties: Visitor logs show that Epstein visited the Clinton White House several times and the former president appeared in Epstein’s flight logs on his private jets after he left office.

Numerous photos have surfaced showing Clinton and Epstein together. However, the Clintons both deny any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. And Hillary Clinton has said she doesn’t recall ever meeting Epstein.

➤ TIDBIT FROM HILLARY CLINTON’S DEPOSITION:

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) leaked a photo from inside the former first lady and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee’s deposition. 📸 The leaked photo

Her deposition was paused after MAGA influencer Benny Johnson posted a photo of Clinton, which he said came from Boebert. Democrats on the committee are furious, accusing Republicans of breaking their own rules.

What a lovely afternoon to spend in Texas:

Trump is headed to Corpus Christi, Texas, today to discuss his energy policies.

The elephant in the room: Trump has not yet made a coveted endorsement in the three-way GOP Senate primary. He’s on the clock — the primary is happening next Tuesday (!).

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is seeking reelection for his fifth term but has a tough primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), both of whom have sought to charm Trump.

Paxton is several points ahead of Cornyn in Decision Desk HQ’s polling index, while Hunt is farther behind.

Today should be fun to watch: All three candidates are expected to attend Trump’s speech today. Expect to see everyone’s pearly whites out.

➤ A RIFT FORMING AROUND THE RACE:

Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon backs Paxton. But two of Trump’s top campaign aides back Cornyn. Politico’s Adam Wren reports this has opened quite the rift on the right.

Why Anthropic’s fight with the Pentagon is getting so much attention:

The Pentagon uses Anthropic’s AI system, Claude, for its classified systems.

But Anthropic has two rules for the Pentagon: Claude will not be used in autonomous weapons or in mass surveillance of Americans.

Well, the Defense Department does not want to agree to those rules — not because it necessarily wants to use Claude for those purposes, but it does not want guardrails from the company requiring it first get permission from Anthropic in a national security situation.

Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers argued that “the contractor can’t have procedural carte blanche to cut the cord if there’s a dispute.”

This standoff has caused quite the showdown: The Pentagon has given Anthropic until 5 p.m. today to agree to its demands — or else it said it will effectively blacklist the company or force it to comply. Anthropic has been threatened with being labeled as a “supply chain risk.”

To give you an idea of how tense this dispute has been: A top Pentagon official accused Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Thursday of having a “God-complex” and being a “liar.” 🔎 Read the full post

What’s happening behind the scenes: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told staff on Thursday evening that his company is working on a deal with the Pentagon that could solve the dispute, according to new reporting from The Wall Street Journal’s Keach Hagey.

Related read from The Washington Post: ‘The hypothetical nuclear attack that escalated the Pentagon’s showdown with Anthropic’

Excerpt: “A defense official said the Pentagon’s technology chief whittled the debate down to a life-and-death nuclear scenario at a meeting last month: If an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched at the United States, could the military use Anthropic’s Claude AI system to help shoot it down? … Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei’s answer rankled the Pentagon, according to the official, who characterized the CEO’s reply as: You could call us and we’d work it out.”

— Senate Democrats are demanding the Trump administration refund Americans for the tariffs they paid last year after the Supreme Court ruled against the policy.

— For the first time in 25 years of Gallup polling, Americans’ sympathy for Israel has dropped. Now, more Americans say they sympathize with Palestinians, per Axios.

— The U.S. birthrate is declining. The New York Times reports that some think this is a good thing. Four things to know about the birthrate

— More than 32 million Americans watched Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address.

The Wall Street Journal: The Spectacular MAGA Breakup Rocking Georgia

The Washington Post: Trump, seeking executive power over elections, is urged to declare emergency

The Hill: Some Republicans increasingly frustrated stock trading ban touted by Trump is stalled

The House and Senate are out. President Trump is in Texas this afternoon. (All times EST)

4:05 p.m. Trump receives an energy briefing.

4:35 p.m. Trump delivers remarks in Corpus Christi on energy. 💻 Livestream

This evening: Trump leaves Texas and flies to Palm Beach, Fla.

Sunday: The Actor Awards 2026 (formerly known as the SAG Awards). How to watch

🍓 Celebrate: Today is National Strawberry Day!

🕸️ Did you say … Martian … spiderwebs?: NASA’s Mars rover has found rock formations that look like spiderwebs. But before you freak out like I did, they look like spiderwebs but the rock formations actually may suggest water flowed more recently on Mars than previously thought. 📸 Photos captured by the Mars rover

Because I always want to leave you smiling before the weekend, check out this doggy daycare’s reaction when one of their favorite staffers leaves. Why does this resemble an intervention?!

I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Check out more newsletters here. See you next time!

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