'Public has a right to know': Schumer pushes for full release of Epstein files, citing obscure Senate provision

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and a group of Senate Democrats on Wednesday invoked a decades-old obscure law in their effort to force the Trump administration to release all files related to the federal investigation into convicted juvenile sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Schumer and the seven Democrats that sit on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee issued a letter to  Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation release “the full and complete Epstein files.”

The lawmakers cite a 1928 provision known as the “rule of five” that requires government agencies to “submit any information requested of it” by at least five members of that specific committee.

“While protecting the victims' identities can and must be of top importance, the public has a right to know who enabled, knew of, or participated in one of the most heinous sex trafficking operations in history,” Schumer said at a news conference on Capitol Hill.

The DOJ did not return a request for comment about the letter, which requests the information be provided by Aug. 15.

Bondi has faced bipartisan backlash for her handling of the Epstein case files. For months she vowed to conservative podcasters and social media influencers that she planned to declassify and release more information related to the 2019 arrest of Epstein on federal sex trafficking charges. But on July 7 the DOJ  released a memo indicating a review of the files found no evidence of a “client list” and no evidence to support further investigation of “uncharged third parties.” The memo also stated that Epstein died by suicide inside a federal jail cell in Manhattan in August 2019 in an attempt to debunk speculation he was murdered. 

The memo sparked immediate criticism from some of Trump’s staunchest supporters and has become a focal point in Congress as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle press for release of the files.

“Once we get the truth, we can have accountability, we can move forward, not just on this, but on many issues affecting the American people — protecting health care, growing the middle class, defending democracy — but none of that is possible if the public loses faith that justice only applies to some but not others,” Schumer said.

The letter was also signed by Sens. Gary Peters of Michigan, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.

Long Island’s four House members — Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R- Bayport), Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) — all previously told Newsday they support releasing the files as long as safeguards are put in place to protect victims’ identities.

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.