Senate Democrats are demanding that the Department of Justice release files pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein by invoking an obscure policy called the “rule of five.”
The “rule of five,” a federal law in Section 2954 and dating to 1928, allows five members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs to send an information request to a federal agency.
“After missteps and failed promises by your Department regarding these files, it is essential that the Trump Administration provide full transparency,” the senators wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi, going on to note that one of President Trump’s campaign promises was the declassification of the files.
“We call on you to fulfill those promises of transparency,” the letter adds. “Specifically, we request all documents, files, evidence, or other materials in the possession of DOJ or FBI related to the United States of America v. Jeffrey Epstein.” These include records, documents, audio and video recordings, and other materials related to the case.
The letter noted that Bondi must also take necessary steps to protect all personal or private information of victims, including personally identifiable information of victims and victims’ personal and medical files. You should, in accordance with federal law and best practices in the interest of victims, also exclude all materials that depict or contain child sexual abuse materials,” as defined in U.S. code.
The documents are to be provided to the senators by August 15, with a briefing on the matter to be held no later than August 29.
Those involved in the letter are Sens. Gary Peters (MI), Margaret Hassan (NH), Richard Blumenthal (CT), John Fetterman (PA), Andy Kim (NJ), Ruben Gallego (NY), Elissa Slotkin (AZ), and Chuck Schumer (NY).
Discussing the matter on the Senate floor, Schumer stated, “We’re invoking federal law and using our authority as a check on the executive to compel transparency,” urging Republicans to “stand up for the oversight powers of Congress and join us in calling for more transparency on the Epstein files.”
