Trump admin live updates: Drama in House committee over Epstein files

Drama played out in a key House committee on Thursday night as lawmakers debated dueling measures dealing with the release of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

During a vote in the House Rules Committee, Republicans voted to advance a non-binding resolution to call for the release of some Epstein files. The rule provides no floor debate for the matter, and it is not subject to Senate passage or approval by the president.

It allows Attorney General Pam Bondi to make public all "credible" documents as well as redact or withhold portions of the Epstein files.

The vote in the committee was 9-4.

During the committee meeting, a screaming match unfolded between Ranking Member Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and GOP Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., over releasing the Epstein files.

"We know who you are hiding," McGovern said in one exchange.

"You're the party of child victims," Scott said in response.

It’s not clear when the measure would be brought up for a full House vote. The resolution, which did not receive Democratic support, would not legally require the Trump administration to act.

Democrats also offered an amendment -- which failed -- to force the release of all materials about the Epstein investigation through a bill sponsored by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif.

The wrangling over the Epstein measures delayed moving forward on a vote to approve a White House request to claw back $9 billion from the federal budget, including funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

The Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid will start an "initiative" to ensure that "illegal migrants are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans," a DHS official said.

The Associated Press first reported the agreement between the departments.

“President Trump consistently promised to protect Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries," DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.

An official with the Department of Health and Human Services told ABC News the department takes the integrity of the Medicaid program and the protection of American taxpayer dollars extremely seriously.

HHS acted within its legal authority – and in compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them, according to the official.

DHS has also entered into an information sharing partnership with the IRS.

-ABC News' Luke Barr and Michelle Stoddart

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Trump to fire Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought over his suggestion that Congress should be less bipartisan when it comes to congressional appropriations.

"Russ Vought has now said the quiet part out loud. He said he even wants less bipartisanship in the Congress. He wants to destroy: Destroy the way the Congress works, destroy the balance of power, upend our entire constitution. Russell Vought doesn't believe in this democracy," Schumer said to a group of reporters this afternoon.

Schumer called Vought a "great danger to the American people"

"He wants to impose his right-wing views on America almost unilaterally. He said he will break the law by pocket rescissions, by impoundment. He is a very great danger to the American people, to our democracy, and the things people believe in," Schumer said. "Where are our Republican colleagues? Are they going to let this guy run rampant in one of the most powerful positions in government? Where the Republicans? I'm just furious. Donald Trump should fire Russell Vought immediately before he destroys our democracy and runs the country into the ground."

Schumer dodged a number of questions about how Vought's comments coupled with the GOP move to pass a rescissions package Wednesday would affect how Democrats maneuver in the upcoming government funding fight.

"Ask the Republicans,” he answered repeatedly.

-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn't answer a question on the firing of Maurene Comey from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Leavitt deferred reporters to the Department of Justice, saying that it was their decision to fire Comey.The press secretary was later asked whether the White House had knowledge of the firing and whether Trump signed off on it. Leavitt sidestepped, saying only that it was a decision from the DOJ.

Comey prosecuted high-profile cases, including the Sean "Diddy" Combs prosecution and the office's case against Jeffrey Epstein. She is the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, who Trump fired during his first term.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart