Senate Democrats are using a rarely used federal law to pressure the Justice Department into releasing all of the Epstein files, a move that has intensified ongoing debates over presidential accountability and transparency. The lawmakers, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, requesting the full and detailed records of the late convicted sexual predator, Jeffrey Epstein. The Democrats’ request is based on a provision in the U.S. Code that mandates federal agencies to provide requested information when five members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee formally ask for it. This legal strategy underscores the growing frustration within the Democratic Party over the administration’s handling of the case, which has become a recurring issue in the Senate’s legislative agenda.
The effort to access the Epstein files has been part of an ongoing campaign by Democrats to hold the Trump administration accountable for its conduct. Schumer and other committee members have called for a closed-door briefing on the files, and have even urged the FBI to investigate potential counterintelligence threats linked to the case. This pressure has contributed to internal rifts among Republicans, particularly in the House, where GOP divisions over Trump’s handling of the Epstein files culminated in a chaotic session that forced Speaker Mike Johnson to adjourn the chamber early. However, Senate Republicans have been more cautious, opting instead to block proposed resolutions on the issue rather than engage in open confrontation. Meanwhile, the Democrats’ legal maneuvering continues to cast a long shadow over the administration’s legacy and the broader landscape of executive oversight.