Schumer Invokes Century Old Law to Demand DOJ Release Epstein Files by August 15

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

---

Image Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Wednesday that he and four other Democratic senators have formally invoked a century old statute known as the Rule of Five to compel the Department of Justice and the FBI to release all files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, Schumer explained that the statute grants five members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee the authority to demand executive branch disclosures. According to Schumer, the request demands access to “all documents, files, evidence and other materials” relating to the U.S. v. Jeffrey Epstein case.

“While protecting the victims’ identities must remain a top priority, the public has a right to know who enabled, knew of, or participated in one of the most heinous sex trafficking operations in modern history,” Schumer stated.

The demand targets what Schumer described as a pattern of “stonewalling and evasion” from the Trump administration, despite past public assurances of transparency from Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.

Schumer accused former President Donald Trump of breaking a campaign promise to release the Epstein files and said the move by Senate Democrats represents a legal, non symbolic use of congressional authority. “This is not a stunt. It’s a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law,” Schumer said. “And we expect an answer from the DOJ by August 15th. That’s what accountability looks like.”

He also called upon Senate Republicans to join the initiative, appealing to bipartisan values of oversight and transparency.

In addition to the demand for file disclosure, Schumer urged the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment, citing concerns that foreign intelligence services could exploit classified or unreleased Epstein related information. He warned that failure to secure these files could result in national security vulnerabilities and potential leverage over high ranking officials, including Trump and his inner circle. “We need to assess whether foreign entities can use cyber intrusion or other methods to access what this administration refuses to release,” he said during a floor speech earlier in the day.

The Rule of Five is a rarely used provision within federal law that allows five senators on the Homeland Security Committee to request information from the executive branch. If valid, the executive is legally obligated to respond. Schumer’s announcement marks one of the most high profile invocations of the statute in recent memory.

The renewed push to unseal the Epstein files comes amid ongoing public scrutiny of Epstein's connections to powerful global figures and new legal battles surrounding his former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

If the DOJ fails to comply by the August 15 deadline, it could set off a legal and political showdown between Congress and the Trump administration. Schumer insists that Senate Democrats are prepared to escalate the matter if needed. “We are done with secrecy and silence,” Schumer declared. “It’s time the American people got the full truth.”