U.S. and Iranian negotiators Thursday to extend the in the 3-month-old war by 60 days and start a new round of talks , according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Iran did not immediately confirm any deal. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but said it was unclear if President Donald Trump would approve it.
Meanwhile, former Attorney General will investigating Jeffrey Epstein鈥檚 sexual abuse cases, a long-awaited appearance that brings fresh scrutiny of the administration鈥檚 botched release of the Epstein case files.
Here’s the latest:
Pam Bondi to face closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over Epstein files
Former Attorney General is testifying before House lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein鈥檚 sexual abuse cases, a long-awaited appearance that brings fresh scrutiny of the administration鈥檚 botched release of the Epstein case files.
Bondi in previous public testimony when she was confronted by lawmakers about the Epstein investigation. It鈥檚 unclear whether she鈥檒l bring the same approach Friday, now that she is no longer in charge of the Justice Department. The session will be held behind closed doors.
The transcribed interview will give lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration鈥檚 handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of his former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department moved Maxwell to a in Texas last August.
鈥淚 think she absolutely could clear up many missing pieces if she wanted to,鈥� said Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 a question of whether or not she is willing to be transparent.鈥�
鈻�
Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting. There鈥檚 no immediate effect on the midterms
A federal judge has declined to halt Trump鈥檚 creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting, clearing the way for potential sweeping changes in how American elections are run shortly before this year鈥檚 midterm elections.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee in Washington, late Wednesday rejected the request by Democrats and civil rights groups that had argued Trump鈥檚 order would likely be because the states and Congress, not the president, have the power to set election rules. Nichols agreed with the Republican Trump administration鈥檚 contention that it was too early to block the order because it has yet to be implemented.
Nichols鈥� ruling leaves the door open for further challenges when the Trump administration moves to implement the president鈥檚 directive. A separate lawsuit seeking to block the executive order is underway in Boston. No matter how rapidly the administration acts, no voting changes are expected during primary elections, which continue into next month.
鈻�
Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms limited steps toward a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that his department has prepared the design for a $250 bill featuring Trump, anticipating the passage of stalled legislation in Congress to put the president on a new denomination of legal tender.
Bessent said at the White House that authorizing the new currency will be up to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, but that 鈥渨e鈥檝e created the bill鈥� because 鈥渨e have to be prepared.鈥�
The secretary downplayed the idea that the administration is pushing the matter, despite Trump鈥檚 penchant for infusing his name and likeness across the nation鈥檚 capital and into the observances of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Yet he also insisted there is nothing inappropriate about Trump鈥檚 visage being part of the seminal national celebration.
鈻�
Top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing media reports
The top federal prosecutor in Chicago denied Thursday evening that his office had opened an investigation into , the longtime advice columnist who has said Trump sexually assaulted her 30 years ago, hours after multiple news organizations reported that the Justice Department was investigating whether she had lied during the course of civil litigation against Trump.
The Associated Press and other news organizations, citing anonymous sources, reported that the federal prosecutors鈥� office in Chicago had opened an investigation into Carroll.
But Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office 鈥渉as not opened 鈥� and has never opened 鈥� a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.鈥�
A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, initially told the AP on Thursday morning that investigators were focused on Carroll but later clarified that the actual focus was on a nonprofit that had helped fund her case.
鈻�
US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and start new nuclear talks
U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement Thursday to extend the in the 3-month-old war by 60 days and start a new round of talks , according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.
Iran did not immediately confirm any deal. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but said it was unclear if Trump would approve it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to say exactly when or if the president鈥檚 going to sign,鈥� Vance told reporters.
He added: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going back and forth on a couple of language points.鈥�
The emerging memorandum of understanding came as the fragile ceasefire in between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering. The latest flare-up in fighting happened less than a day earlier, when Kuwait intercepted missiles fired from Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.
鈻�
鈥� Aamer Madhani, Jon Gambrell, Michelle L. Price and Sam Metz
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
