Democrats hammer Epstein issue, find rare power move against Trump

Yahoo

2 days ago

WASHINGTON – Democrats in Congress are continuing to raise issues about the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a sore spot for President Donald Trump and his Republican base, as the minority party searches for the administration's Achilles heel ahead of next year's elections.
Uproar over the Justice Department's review of the disgraced financier and sex offender's case consumed the House and sent lawmakers in that chamber packing early for their August break.
The Senate, which remains in Washington through at least this week, is beginning to face its own debate, after weeks of largely avoiding Epstein-related drama.
In their review, announced in early July, the Justice Department and FBI said they'd found no evidence of a much-anticipated 'client list' or proof to support various conspiracy theories about the case – even though members of Trump's administration backed such claims until recently.
Many MAGA voters and allies were incensed by the change in stance and called for the case documents to be made public. Republican lawmakers have been caught between their disgruntled base and the president, who has urged the public to move on from the issue.
Seeing a rare opening, Democrats are seeking to drive the wedge further in.
Lawmakers on the left have continued to urge the administration to share the files. And they expect the topic to resonate with voters back home.
Democrats find a rare power tool to go after Epstein info
Most recently, Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee invoked an arcane law to force the Justice Department's hand in the matter.
The century-old law, dubbed the 'rule of five,' gives otherwise powerless Democrats a rare tool to combat the Trump administration. If at least five members of the committee agree to request information, the executive branch is compelled to comply.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a July 30 press conference that the seven Democrats on the committee were asking the Justice Department and FBI to produce 'all documents, files, evidence and other materials' related to Epstein.
Those materials should include notes and recordings from the department's recent interviews with Epstein's former girlfriend and associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut.
Schumer added that the documents would have necessary redactions to protect victims' identities. The letter only asks that the documents be released to the committee.
He and other Democrats are looking to pin blame for the lack of information on Trump, saying, 'Donald Trump campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. He broke that promise.'
Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi with a formal request. Schumer said they expect an answer by Aug. 15 and are prepared to take their request to court if the administration does not respond or comply.
'It's not a stunt. It's not symbolic. It's a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law,' the Democratic leader said.
'This guy breaks promises'
It's also part of a larger narrative Democrats are banking on, as the party continues to debate the right counter approach to Trump following their party's 2024 election loss.
On the one hand, lawmakers in the minority party have already said they would be campaigning on the high costs associated with Trump's tariffs and impacts on Medicaid recipients from Trump's spending bill.
But, Democratic senators told USA TODAY, they believe there is space to talk about those issues and Epstein.
'I think we can do more than one issue,' Blumenthal said. 'And certainly, Americans are interested in more than one issue.'
Sen. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, said his party should focus on a central message, which he believes will be health care.
'But,' he said, 'that doesn't mean that that's all you talk about.'
Along with their latest letter demanding Bondi and justice officials release information, Democrats have also pressed the Epstein issue through mostly unsuccessful resolutions and amendments, calling for the administration to release documents.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, though, said this is 'not a Democratic issue.'
'Donald Trump said as a candidate he'd release the file. Donald Trump said, as president, he would release the file. And now he's doing a backtrack,' Kaine told USA TODAY. 'This is a Republican issue. The only relevance of it really for Democrats is to point out: this guy breaks promises.'
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats continue to press Trump over Epstein issue