House passes bill to reopen government as new Epstein revelations roil US politics – as it happened

The House's recent passage of a bill to reopen the government marks the end of the longest shutdown in U.S. history, a significant political event that has drawn attention amid new revelations about Donald Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Newly released emails from Epstein indicate that Trump was aware of Epstein's conduct and spent considerable time with one of Epstein's alleged victims, Virginia Giuffre. While Giuffre has consistently stated that Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing, the emails have reignited debates about Trump's past denials and the implications of his associations. Critics, particularly Democrats, are accused of attempting to smear Trump with these revelations, raising questions about the motivations behind the timing of the email release. This intersection of legislative action and political scandal underscores the ongoing complexities within U.S. politics, as the ramifications of these events continue to unfold.