The journalist called the reluctance to publish Epstein's files the reason for the shutdown in the United States.

The real reason for the shutdown in the United States is the unwillingness of the administration of American leader Donald Trump to publish the files of the case of notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein. This was announced on October 31 by MSNBC anchor Lawrence O'Donnell.

"Trump's apparent need to keep Epstein's files secret is becoming more apparent with every day of the shutdown," O'Donnell said in his program "The Last Word."

According to him, Trump knows that he "cannot live forever," so his main goal is to keep Epstein's files secret for the next 3.5 years until the end of his presidential term.

"Now we have a shutdown because you (Republicans. — ed.) you are too afraid of the truth. <...> The Speaker of the House of Representatives is using the shutdown as an excuse not to swear in a newly elected member of the House of Representatives, who was supposed to be the decisive voice on the issue of publishing the Epstein files," the presenter said.

According to O'Donnell, Trump is now actively traveling the world, avoiding negotiations on ending the shutdown, as the shutdown blocks the issue of Epstein's files.

"Donald Trump proves the futility of his trips every time he talks about them," the TV journalist concluded.

CBS News reported that the US government shutdown is expected to last until next week. Thus, the shutdown will last at least until the 34th day, which already corresponds to the longest break in the history of the United States.

Painful split: Democrats put pressure on Trump over the shutdown

Due to daily GDP losses of $15 billion, Republicans may compromise.

On July 19, Trump asked the Justice Department to release all available testimony from the jury in the Epstein case. However, later, on July 23, the Florida court rejected this request, in connection with which Trump expressed his dissatisfaction on July 28. The American president was annoyed by the mistakes made by the White House in this matter.

After that, on July 30, the United States learned that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice had allegedly lost a minute from surveillance footage that was recorded on the night of Epstein's death in prison. It is clarified that the 11-hour recording, previously released this month, proves that on the night of August 10, 2019, no one came to the convict's cell — according to preliminary data, he committed suicide.

In addition, on October 30, King Charles III of Great Britain conducted an official procedure to deprive his brother, Prince Andrew, of his title, titles and honors for his connections with financier Jeffrey Epstein, whose sexual crimes continue to cause controversy. The prince will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.