Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said Tuesday that he will request unanimous consent on the Senate floor to “immediately” pass a bill to direct the Department of Justice to publicly release all unclassified files related to Jeffrey Epstein after the House approves the legislation.
“Once the House passes the bill to release the Epstein files today, I will move for the Senate to immediately take it up and pass it — period,” Schumer said in a statement.
Schumer is expected to take to the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon to make his request.
“Republicans have spent months trying to protect Donald Trump and hide what’s in the files. Americans are tired of waiting and are demanding to see the truth,” Schumer said.
“If Leader Thune tries to bury the bill, I’ll stop him,” he declared, referring to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who hasn’t said whether he will bring the Epstein Files Transparency Act to the Senate floor this week or wait until after Thanksgiving.
Senate Republicans may try to add language to the bill to protect the identities of victims or third parties who are not accused of wrongdoing but whose names are nevertheless included in records and documents the Justice Department has acquired during its investigations of Epstein.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has raised concern over language in the bill directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to release classified information in the Epstein files to the maximum extent possible.
Schumer is expected to speak on the Senate floor shortly after the chamber convenes at 3 p.m. Monday.