Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says Democrats are done waiting. On Wednesday, he revealed they invoked a little-known, century-old law to demand the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files from the Department of Justice and the FBI.
At a press conference, Schumer explained that he and every Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee are using a federal statute known as the "Rule of Five." According to Schumer, if five senators on the committee request information from the executive branch, the law requires compliance.
Their demand? Every document, file, and piece of evidence tied to United States v. Jeffrey Epstein. Schumer made clear that protecting victims’ identities remains crucial—but the public also deserves answers.
“Who enabled Epstein? Who looked the other way? Who took part?” Schumer asked. He blasted what he called “stonewalling, evasion, and lies” from the DOJ and FBI, despite past promises of transparency by Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.
Schumer called out former President Donald Trump by name. “He campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. He broke that promise,” Schumer said. “He’s hiding from the truth and hiding from the American people.”
He emphasized that the request isn’t symbolic. “This is real oversight. This is real congressional power,” Schumer said. “We expect a response from DOJ by August 15. That’s accountability.”
Schumer also appealed to his Republican colleagues. “If you believe in transparency—join us,” he urged. “If you believe in checks and balances—stand with us. Because once there’s transparency, the truth emerges.”
Earlier in the week, Schumer also pushed for the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment tied to the Epstein files. He warned that foreign intelligence agencies could exploit secrets the U.S. refuses to release, and potentially gain leverage over Trump or other officials. The DOJ has not yet responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.