Schumer Says Senate Democrats Invoked Rarely Used Rule To Force Trump Admin to Release ALL Epstein Files
Source: MEDIAite
Jul 30th, 2025, 1:50 pm
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) took the Senate floor on Wednesday and announced that he had invoked the Rule of Five to force the Trump Justice Department to release all the Epstein files by August 15th.
Now I come to the floor this morning with some news. Today, Senate Democrats take additional action to try and uncover the truth about the Epstein files. This morning, I join all of my Democratic colleagues on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in invoking a century-old law known as the Rule of Five to compel the Department of Justice to release the full and complete Epstein files, which to date, of course, they have refused to be transparent about, Schumer said, adding:
Under federal law, when any five senators on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee call on the executive branch to release investigative documents, they must comply. Our request covers all documents, files, evidence, or other materials in the possession of the Department of Justice or the FBI related to the case of United States versus Jeffrey Epstein.
This includes records and documents related to Epstein and his clients, while ensuring that the private information of any victims is protected. We expect the Trump administration to provide these documents by August the 15th. The situation with the Epstein files is very simple. Donald Trump promised transparency, and he has broken that promise. As a candidate, Trump said on many occasions he would release the Epstein files if elected. He has refused to do so.
The Trump administration has been roiled by the Jeffrey Epstein case since early July, when the DOJ and FBI released a joint memo effectively closing the case. Trump has long stoked conspiracy theories surrounding the convicted sex offender, which many in his MAGA base have latched onto, hopeful that Trump would come to office and release all the information regarding the case.
Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/schumer-says-senate-democrats-invoked-rarely-used-rule-to-force-trump-admin-to-release-all-epstein-files/
Link to LETTER (PDF) - https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/d1193ded99f0a9a9/ced71823-full.pdf
Link to STATUTE - 5 USC 2954: Information to committees of Congress on request
APPLICABLE LAWS
Pub. L. 89554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 413
Pub. L. 103437, §3(b), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4581

Chasstev365
(5,811 posts)The Trump administration and Republicans will just ignore you.
mcar
(44,981 posts)Please be specific.
orangecrush
(25,887 posts)mcar
(44,981 posts)from power?
And it was done without his cooperation.
BumRushDaShow
(157,349 posts)where their "impeachment" comes from the single "National Assembly" and is agreed to or rejected by their judiciary.
In our case, the impeachment has been successful in one part of our bicameral legislative branch, but the "conviction" must come from the OTHER part - the Senate - and with a high threshold of votes needed to carry out.
Bluetus
(1,342 posts)I was not aware of this law. Are any Republicans joining this demand?
AverageOldGuy
(2,785 posts). . . if I do not hold me breath for the release.
SSJVegeta
(1,191 posts)republianmushroom
(20,789 posts)And if they don't who goes to jail ?
surfered
(8,198 posts)Go to court? But that decision will be appealed. Then that decision will be appealed to the Supreme Court. By then well have forgotten all about Epstein because well be knee deep in another scandal.
Wash, rinse, and repeat.
groundloop
(13,160 posts)GiqueCee
(2,607 posts)... can't understand why everyone hates their guts. With the exception, of course, of those sorry-ass fools that were carved out of the same turd as they were. Ain't NO hope for them.
progressoid
(51,676 posts)If we have to we'll issue another sternly written letter!!
onenote
(45,520 posts)progressoid
(51,676 posts)"The US isn't operating under statesmanship, or rules or laws anymore so lets stop pretending that invoking the law will work" column. We're still waiting for Perry, Jim Jordan, Biggs and McCarthy to be held responsible for disobeying their subpoenas. * This is a cute gesture by Schumer et. al., but ultimately useless.
* I look forward to eating crow if I'm proved wrong.
onenote
(45,520 posts)Something likely to work?
progressoid
(51,676 posts)Hire a bunch of Gen X and Zers to flood social media with memes and videos. Us the algorithms to our advantage. The right wing owns most of the legacy media so you won't get a lot done there. But the online world is still the wild west and exploitable.
Blackjackdavey
(233 posts)You're saying a bunch of young people saying things on the internet is a suggestion that would work better than the Schumer gambit? To get the Epstein files released? Or something else? Have Trump removed? With memes? Isn't it safe to say there are already young people messaging and memeing? I'm as desperate as the next guy for a solution to this mess but I'm sorry, this idea seems to lack some details to truly become an "idea that would work."
progressoid
(51,676 posts)It's a start. Ultimately, we need a full fledged media blitz for the next few years on all platforms to regain support and guide the narrative. It's time for the old guard to let the young people take over messaging. Case in point, Biden did a lot of great things in his 4 years. Unfortunately, outside of political circles, most people don't know it.
Trump et. al. tend to suck the air out of the room. But with Epstein we finally have a winning hand. The "Schumer gambit" might look good to old school pols but does little to win support in the long run. We need a new path forward.
I could go on but Pete sums it up...
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VtujXV057wU
W_HAMILTON
(9,382 posts)Unless you and the others unfairly criticizing Schumer's actions in this thread plan to launch your own insurrection and oust Trump and his MAGAts by force, this is what resistance to this administration will look like until we, the voters, elect more Democrats and empower them to take more substantive action.
SOME of us told those naysayers back in 2016 and 2024 that this would be the outcome -- but they didn't listen. And now the same ones that made excuses for not fully and wholeheartedly supporting and voting for Democrats in those two consequential elections are now upset that Democrats aren't doing more to stop Trump and his Republicans -- when they gave them virtually no power to do so.
progressoid
(51,676 posts)While our team is invoking ineffective rarely used rules, the MAGAts have taken control of the 4th estate and the narrative.
There are other ways to resist beyond insurrection or waiting for the midterms. Our team would do well to hire a slew of Gen Zers to flood social media with content.