Summary
- Senate Dem Leader Chuck Schumer to force vote on Epstein files.
- The amendment requires the Justice Dept. to release all Epstein documents.
- Schumer ties vote to must-pass defense authorization bill.
- GOP Senate leader calls move a "political stunt."
As a longtime buddy of the former financier, Epstein committed suicide in prison in 2019 and has been the focus of numerous right-wing conspiracy theories. The matter has proven to be a political thorn in Trump's side.
After returning to the White House in January, Trump changed his mind after he had long implied that the Epstein files contained negative information. With the support of congressional Republican leaders who are committed to limiting the dissemination of information, he has attempted to portray the problem as a Democrat-led hoax.
A birthday card purportedly written by Trump to Epstein over two decades ago was made public this week by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, which is looking into the Epstein issue.
"There's been so much lying, obfuscation, cover-ups. The American people need to see everything that's in the Epstein file, and my amendment would make that happen,"
Schumer told reporters after seeking to attach the measure to a massive defense policy now before Congress.
"We hope Republicans will vote for it. They should."
Schumer's action, which is out of the ordinary for a leader of a minority party, brings up the Epstein problem in a Senate debate that has so far avoided the topic.
"It's a political stunt. That's not something that's done, you know. It's a hostile act,"
the South Dakota Republican said.
"One way or the other, we'll dispose of it."
As early as Wednesday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has mostly refrained from discussing Epstein, warned reporters that his Republican majority could vote to repeal the Schumer amendment.
According to Schumer's office, the amendment, which mandates that the Justice Department make all of the Epstein files available within 30 days, is the same as a resolution that two lawmakers, a Democrat and a Republican, filed in the House of Representatives in an attempt to compel a floor vote on the issue there.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has pushed his Republican majority, which includes Democratic Representative Ro Khanna and Republican Representative Thomas Massie, to oppose the legislation.
How might recent Epstein disclosures impact political narratives?
The ongoing saga intensifies partisan divisions, with Democrats positioning themselves as champions of transparency and accountability, while many Republicans, especially those allied with former President Trump, portray the disclosures as politically motivated attacks or distractions from key issues.
Conflicting messages from the Department of Justice and other officials have bred widespread skepticism about government transparency, fueling conspiracy theories and public distrust in law enforcement and political leaders.
The revelations and related investigations spotlight Trump’s connections to Epstein, posing reputational risks and stirring internal conflict within the MAGA coalition.