Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., turns to an aide during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington on June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The move came as Epstein drama had already paralyzed the House, and as Democrats in the upper chamber began to ramp up their messaging against President Donald Trump for his handling of the issue.
And Friday was the deadline for the Justice Department and White House to comply, and so far, the documents have not been given to Schumer and Senate Democrats.
"They’re now breaking the law to hide the files," Schumer said on X. "[Senate Majority Leader John Thune] must appoint a lawyer to defend the Senate in Court and get the files."
"If he chooses complicity — we’ll take them to court ourselves."
'LOUDER BY THE HOUR': SENATE GOP WANTS THE EPSTEIN DRAMA TO END, BUT DEMOCRATS AREN'T LETTING IT GO
President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter on Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
In a letter sent to the White House and the DOJ, Schumer and Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security panel charged that it was "essential that the Trump Administration provide full transparency," in releasing the files related to the late pedophile.
"We call on you to fulfill those promises of transparency," they wrote.
Democrats’ request included all documents, files, evidence and other materials that DOJ had related to the case of U.S. v. Jeffrey Epstein, along with any records related to Epstein and his clients.
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However, whether the law is enforceable in court remains to be seen, given that it has seldom been used since its inception.
The last attempt came in 2017, when Democrats tried to force the release of documents surrounding the lease of the Old Post Office building in the District, which became one of Trump’s hotels.
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-claims-trump-admin-withholding-epstein-files-threatens-sue