By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday he would force a Senate vote to require the Trump administration to release all its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, foisting a controversy dogging President Donald Trump onto Senate Republicans who have so far avoided the issue.
The case of Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 and has been the subject of myriad rightwing conspiracy theories, has proved to be a political thorn in the side of Trump, a one-time friend of the former financier.
After long suggesting that the files related to Epstein contain damaging information, Trump reversed course after returning to the White House in January. He has sought to brand the issue as a Democrat-led hoax, and has been helped by congressional Republican leaders determined to control the release of materials.
This week, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the Epstein case, released a birthday letter that Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein more than 20 years ago. The White House denied its authenticity and Trump said the letter’s signature was not his.
“There’s been so much lying, obfuscation, cover-ups. The American people need to see everything that’s in the Epstein file, and my amendment would make that happen,” Schumer told reporters after seeking to attach the measure to a massive defense policy now before Congress. “We hope Republicans will vote for it. They should.”
Schumer’s move, unusual move for a minority party leader, injects the Epstein issue into a Senate debate that has dodged the controversy up to now.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has largely avoided talking about Epstein, told reporters that his Republican majority could vote to kill the Schumer amendment as early as Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s a political stunt. That’s not something that’s done, you know. It’s a hostile act,” the South Dakota Republican said. “One way or the other, we’ll dispose of it.”
Schumer’s office said the amendment, which requires the Justice Department to release all Epstein files within 30 days, is identical to a resolution filed in the House of Representatives by two lawmakers – a Republican and a Democrat – who are trying to force a floor vote on the matter in that chamber.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has urged his Republican majority not to support the measure from Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna.
(Reporting by David Morgan in Washington; Editing by Nia Williams)
