A group of Senate Democrats on Wednesday cited an obscure law to ask the Justice Department to hand over criminal investigative files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by Aug. 15.
The request is the latest salvo in an effort by Democrats and some Republicans in Congress to press the Trump administration to release the so-called Epstein files after reneging on its earlier promises to do so.
Eight senators signed a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi seeking the files; Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and all seven Democrats who sit on the committee.
The letter cites a section of federal law that says that an executive agency shall submit “any information requested of it relating to any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee” when sought by “any five members” of the Senate Governmental Affairs panel.
“After missteps and failed promises by your Department regarding these files, it is essential that the Trump Administration provide full transparency,” the letter said.
