By STEPHEN GROVES

WASHINGTON — The House is expected to vote Tuesday on legislation to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, the culmination of a monthslong effort that has overcome opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership.

When a small bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a petition in July to maneuver around House Speaker Mike Johnson’s control of which bills see the House floor, it appeared a longshot effort, especially as Trump urged his supporters to dismiss the matter as a “hoax.” But both Trump and Johnson failed in their efforts to prevent the vote.

Now the president has bowed to the growing momentum behind the bill and even said Republicans should vote for it. His blessing all but ensures that the House will pass the bill with an overwhelming margin, putting further pressure on the Senate to take it up.

Trump on Monday said he would sign the bill if it passes both chambers of Congress, adding, “Let the Senate look at it.”

Tuesday’s vote also provides a further boost to the demands that the Justice Department release its case files on Epstein, a well-connected financier who killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls.

A separate investigation conducted by the House Oversight Committee has released thousands of pages of emails and other documents from Epstein’s estate, showing his connections to global leaders, Wall Street powerbrokers, influential political figures and Trump himself.

Trump’s reversal on the Epstein files

Trump has said he cut ties with Epstein years ago, but tried for months to move past the demands for disclosure. On Monday, he told reporters that Epstein was connected to more Democrats and that he didn’t want the Epstein files to “detract from the great success of the Republican Party.”

Still, many in the Republican base have continued to demand the release of the files. Adding to that pressure, several survivors of Epstein’s abuse will appear on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning to push for release of the files. They also met with Johnson and rallied outside the Capitol in September, but have had to wait two months for the vote.

That’s because Johnson kept the House closed for legislative business for nearly two months and also refused to swear-in Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona during the government shutdown. After winning a special election on Sept. 23, Grijalva had pledged to provide the crucial 218th vote to the petition for the Epstein files bill. But only after she was sworn into office last week could she sign her name to the discharge petition to give it majority support in the 435-member House.

It quickly became apparent the bill would pass, and both Johnson and Trump began to fold. Trump on Sunday said Republicans should vote for the bill.

Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who sponsored the bill alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, said Trump “got tired of me winning. He wanted to join.”

How Johnson is handling the bill

Rather than waiting until next week for the discharge position to officially take effect, Johnson is moving to hold the vote this week. He indicated the legislation will be brought to the House floor under a procedure that requires a two-thirds majority.

“I think it’s going to be an important vote to continue to show the transparency that we’ve delivered,” House Republican leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said Monday night.

House Democrats celebrated the vote as a rare win for the minority.

“It’s a complete and total surrender, because as Democrats we made clear from the very beginning, the survivors and the American people deserve full and complete transparency as it relates to the lives that were ruined by Jeffrey Epstein,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.

What will the Senate do?

Still, it’s not clear how the Senate will handle the bill.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has previously been circumspect when asked about the legislation and instead said he trusted the Justice Department to release information on the Epstein investigation.

But what the Justice Department has released so far under Trump was mostly already public. The bill would go further, forcing the release within 30 days of all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in federal prison. Information about Epstein’s victims or continuing federal investigations would be allowed to be redacted, but not information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”

Johnson also suggested that he would like to see the Senate amend the bill to protect the information of “victims and whistleblowers.”

But Massie said the Senate should take into account the public clamor that forced both Trump and Johnson to back down.

“If it’s anything but a genuine effort to make it better and stronger, it’ll backfire on the senators if they muck it up,” Massie said.

___

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Matt Brown contributed to this report.

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While the Timberwolves performance against likely playoff teams has frustrated the fan base this season, Minnesota’s ability to dispose of cellar dwellers has been impressive.

Two days after a disappointing loss to Denver, the Wolves blew out a short-handed Dallas team, 120-96 at Target Center.

The Mavericks, who were on the second half of a back to back, were down five rotation players. The Wolves showed them no mercy.

Not only has Minnesota taken advantage of its soft opening schedule by devouring every cupcake that’s come it’s way, it’s done so in convincing fashion.

That frequently wasn’t the case for these Wolves in past seasons. But their ability to beat teams they have a clear talent advantage over has propped up their position in the Western Conference standings through 14 games. Minnesota is now 9-0 this season against teams with losing records.

Here are takeaways from Minnesota’s blowout victory:

Reid rolls

After a slow start to the season, Naz Reid is finding his rhythm for Minnesota — and it’s largely stemmed from his energy on the glass.

Reid scored 22 points on Monday on a strong shooting performance, but he also grabbed 12 rebounds to pace the Wolves on the glass.

It’s the second time hitting 12 boards in three games for Reid, who’s averaging 18 points a game in that span.

Clark the spark

Minnesota (9-5) took a minute to establish itself Monday, but that shifted quickly the second Jaylen Clark checked into the game.

Clark instilled a defensive tenacity his teammates picked up on. Dallas (4-11), who’s short on ball handlers, didn’t handle the pressure well. The Mavericks turned the ball over 19 times Monday, which directly resulted in 24 Wolves points.

Dallas shot just 40% from the field and 30% from distance.

McDaniels can’t miss

Anthony Edwards is struggling with his outside shot at the moment. The star guard is 2 for 21 from 3-point range over the last three games. But Minnesota has hardly missed his outside production, thanks to the sharpshooting of Jaden McDaniels.

The defensive stopper went 3 for 4 from deep against Dallas, putting his season-long number at north of 50%. That’s been a bugaboo at times throughout McDaniels’ career, but his confidence and results appear to be an aberration.

Most important, McDaniels is hitting shots from the wing and the top of the floor, with the former being an area where he struggled mightily as recently as last season.

His ability to hit the long ball solves plenty of potential spacing issues for Minnesota.

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Health insurer Medica on Monday announced the acquisition of all of rival UCare’s 2026 Medicaid and individual and family plans.

UCare, based in Minneapolis, currently covers about 300,000 members in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Minnetonka-based Medica covers 1.4 million members across nine states, according to a press release.

The announcement follows UCare’s decision earlier this year to terminate its Medicare Advantage contracts as the company’s board began exploring opportunities for an acquisition, according to the release. Private Medicare Advantage plans augment U.S. government Medicare coverage for seniors.

“As a nonprofit, community-focused health plan, Medica has a long history of serving members in Minnesota, guided by our mission and trusted relationships with providers, customers and members,” said Lisa Erickson, CEO of Medica, in the release. “Now we have the opportunity to build upon both Medica’s strengths and UCare’s legacy, allowing Minnesotans to continue to have a health care experience that ensures they feel cared for.”

Erickson will continue as Medica’s president and CEO.

“Combined, UCare and Medica have nearly a century of industry expertise and a shared commitment to community-driven coverage for those who need it most,” said Hilary Marden-Resnik, president and CEO of UCare. “This is a significant agreement that will enable us to preserve access to coverage for Minnesota’s most vulnerable members.”

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to closing conditions including required regulatory approvals. Terms of the agreement were not announced.

The release says individuals enrolled in UCare’s plans will continue to receive services without interruption.

In a separate news release, state Sen. Matt Klein. DFL–Mendota Heights, promised to “monitor developments, assess legislative oversight needs, and seek input from consumers, providers, and agencies across the state to fight for consumer choice, patient access, and quality of care in our healthcare system.”

Klein is chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.

“I am deeply concerned about the long-term implications of shrinking consumer choice, particularly as Minnesota braces for unprecedented instability within both the provider and payer landscape,” Klein’s release says.

MNsure, the state’s health insurance marketplace, said in its own release that UCare members’ plans through the exchange will not change in coverage or cost for plan year 2026.

“MNsure is working closely with both UCare and Medica to ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted coverage for Minnesotans,” the state agency said.

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As the chief executive officer of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, Jamie Verbrugge helps oversee 1,000 small apartments tied to voluntary services aimed at helping previously-homeless residents stay housed, such as “wrap-around” counseling support for those with addiction and mental health issues. Verbrugge said 90% of his tenants stick around, or seek new apartments on their own, rather than backsliding into the streets.

Of those units, 120 residences are largely funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which issued new conditions last week fundamentally altering access for permanent supportive housing dollars, if not cutting them in half.

The new requirements heavily cap what percentage of each federal housing grant can fund such services, which is poised to upend how some $48 million in housing dollars are distributed statewide.

For Catholic Charities, “it’s more than $1 million that is in jeopardy right now,” said Verbrugge, who fears the federal government’s new emphasis on temporary, transitional housing mandating work requirements and addiction treatment could leave families out on the street. “There’s the dollars impact, but we’re also concerned about the human impact.”

In a news release on the changes, HUD officials said, “Roughly 90% of the last four year’s (grants) funneled funding to support the failed ‘Housing First’ ideology, which encourages dependence on endless government handouts while neglecting to address the root causes of homelessness, including illicit drugs and mental illness.”

The changes also increase competition for grants, according to the HUD officials, while focusing on “self-sufficiency” and “personal accountability.”

Many housing providers say they’re incredulous chronically homeless residents will be able to make a lasting transition to stable housing that starts out heavy on expectations around work and treatment.

“You’re going to put people in encampments into housing with mandatory service requirements?” said Chris LaTondresse, president and chief executive officer of the Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, one of the largest providers of permanent supportive housing statewide.

Housing groups, members of Congress, weigh in

More than 185 housing organizations from across Minnesota have come together in a letter to Congress asking federal lawmakers to walk back deep changes to $48 million in statewide housing assistance they say could double chronic homelessness, even as much of that funding is redirected toward two-year transitional housing.

Their alarm was echoed by 42 U.S. Senate Democrats — including both senators from Minnesota — as well as 22 Republican House members who recently circulated their own letter urging HUD to extend “Continuum of Care” funding expiring in 2026 by at least an additional year. The Republicans include U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota’s Duluth-based 8th District.

Politico last week reported that HUD expects to award roughly 7,000 housing grants totaling about $3.9 billion, a slight increase from the previous year’s funding and a reflection of rising rent prices. HUD’s “notice of funding opportunity” recommends that organizations prioritize projects that provide “treatment and services people need to recover and regain self-sufficiency.”

Nonprofit housing providers in Minnesota say the new HUD grant rules turn their “Housing First” strategy on its head.

$48 million in funding

For years, leaders of charitable housing organizations such as Catholic Charities and the Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative have embraced a “Housing First” and “Continuum of Care” model that seeks to set up deeply affordable housing at all stages of need, from emergency shelter and transitional housing to permanent supportive housing tied to voluntary services. They’ve prioritized getting the homeless housed even before steering them toward addiction and mental health treatment, on the premise that residents are unlikely to succeed at treatment without a roof over their head.

Minnesota’s 10 Continuums of Care received $48 million in HUD funding last year, with most of that money going toward deeply affordable housing and support services for more than 3,600 people, including seniors, veterans, youth, families and survivors of domestic violence. The new rules announced by HUD last week impose a 30% cap on funding for permanent supportive housing, which could cut existing dollars in half by redirecting housing dollars toward other uses.

“The Continuum of Care program is the largest source of federal grant funds for providing a wide range of housing and services for individuals … at risk of homelessness,” reads a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, signed by U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar as well as 40 other Senate Democrats.

“HUD’s current path risks causing a dangerous spike in street homelessness … by forcing nearly 200,000 chronically homeless Americans with disabilities and families back onto the streets,” reads the letter, which was issued last Thursday.

Reducing permanent supportive housing investment

The cap is expected to reduce permanent supportive housing investment nationally from $2.3 billion to $1.2 billion.

Expressing fear that could leave 170,000 people who were previously homeless back on the streets, Beacon Interfaith’s LaTondresse called the changes “the most devastating housing cuts in modern U.S. history.”

“The scale and speed of HUD’s cuts and rule changes place Minnesotans who have overcome homelessness at immediate risk, leave communities with zero time to plan, and reverse decades of bipartisan progress on proven solutions to homelessness,” said LaTondresse, in a written statement last week. His organization in recent weeks had already lost access to two major federal grants totaling $5 million for permanent supportive housing in Richfield and Maplewood.

“Supportive housing works,” LaTondresse said. “It saves lives, saves taxpayer dollars, and reflects the best of who we are … Protect what works.”

Other changes to HUD funding, also announced last week, could pose additional barriers to homelessness prevention, according to housing providers. Base funding for housing interventions known as “Tier 1” support is dropping from 90% to 30% of each community’s annual allocation, freeing up more discretionary funds for the Trump administration’s pilot programs around housing while forcing providers to apply for dollars that comply with executive orders on immigration, public camping bans and gender-related policy compliance.

Calling on Congress and HUD to rethink its strategy, faith leaders plan to join residents and housing providers on Nov. 25 in a 12-hour overnight vigil dubbed “Losing Sleep, Losing Home” at a congregation in Minneapolis. Details are still being sorted, LaTondresse said.

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