Senate Democrats try to force DOJ's hand on Epstein files

Politico

2 days ago

Senate Democrats are using an obscure federal law in an attempt to force President Donald Trump's Justice Department to hand over information related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that DOJ turn over the 'full and complete Epstein files.'
Democrats are invoking a rarely used provision that requires an executive branch agency to hand over requested information when it's requested by at least five members of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Schumer, top committee Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan and other panel Democrats are expected to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss the letter and their latest effort to force the administration to release the files related to the late convicted sexual predator. The New York Times first reported the letter to Bondi.
Senate Democrats have been seeking to increase public pressure on the administration to try to release the files or hand over information to Congress. Schumer recently called for Trump officials to provide a closed-door briefing to senators on the Epstein files. This week he called for the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment related to the files.
GOP divisions over Trump's handling of the Epstein files threw House Republicans into chaos last week, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson to send the chamber home early. While Senate Republicans have blocked an Epstein resolution on the floor, and had their counterproposals also shot down by Democrats, they've so far mostly sidestepped that level of internal drama.