1:45Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Gary Peters, and Senator Richard Blumenthal addressed the media during a press conference urging the Trump administration to disclose additional details regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on July 30, 2025. Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images
On Wednesday, Senate Democrats announced their efforts to compel the release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents through a rarely used, long-standing statute.
All seven Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee referenced a law that mandates federal agencies to provide information concerning “any matter within the committee’s jurisdiction” upon request from at least five members.
"This letter insists that the Justice Department hand over documents that Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have publicly acknowledged they possess," stated Sen. Gary Peters, the committee’s leading Democrat, during the press briefing.
"We are all aware that the attorney general mentioned, quote, they are sitting on her desk. It should be quite straightforward to release documents that are already on the attorney general’s desk," Peters continued.
The Justice Department did not provide an immediate response to the request for comments.
Peters was accompanied by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Richard Blumenthal at the press conference, where they characterized their initiative as a pivotal moment in their pursuit of transparency regarding the Trump administration’s management of the Epstein situation.
"Today’s letter is significant. It is not a mere stunt, nor is it symbolic; it is a formal exercise of congressional authority under federal law, and we anticipate a response from the DOJ by August 15, as that is what accountability entails," Schumer remarked. "This exemplifies oversight, and this is how we fulfill our commitments to the American public."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Gary Peters, and Senator Richard Blumenthal addressed the media during a press conference urging the Trump administration to disclose additional details regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on July 30, 2025. Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images
Blumenthal concurred that this action was utilized as an effective oversight mechanism.
"This letter carries some legal authority," Blumenthal stated. "This letter invokes a statute that has been infrequently applied because it has not been necessary in the past to ensure transparency. It is essential now since this administration is obstructing, delaying, and hiding information, and the American people are rightly questioning what they are trying to conceal. What is at stake here extends beyond just the president’s commitments."
The Democrats, who indicated that their push for the release of the Epstein documents was also a means of pursuing justice for Epstein’s victims, were questioned at the press conference about their comfort level with potential redactions in the documents’ release.
Schumer remarked that lawmakers "would not enforce any agreements that have been violated," but expressed his belief that "almost everything can be disclosed."
Schumer also mentioned that they have been "discussing" with their Republican counterparts to make these documents public but would ultimately seek "recourse through the courts" if cooperation is not forthcoming.
"We have consulted with some of our legal advisors, and we will — this can indeed be contested in the courts, yes," Schumer concluded.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
