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Democrats invoke rare Senate rule to force release of Epstein documents

Democrats invoke rare Senate rule to force release of Epstein documents

Axios4 days ago
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Senate Democrats announced Wednesday that they'll use an obscure federal law known as the "Rule of Five" in an attempt to force the Justice Department to release more documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Why it matters: Congressional Democrats are trying to capitalize on the Epstein issue, which has dogged President Trump and opened fissures between him and some of his most ardent supporters.
What they're saying: "Today's letter matters," Schumer said. "It's not a stunt, it's not symbolic. It's a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law."
Schumer said the request covers "all documents, files, evidence and other materials" in the Justice Department and FBI's possession related to the case.
The intrigue: The "Rule of Five" law allows any five members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to request federal agencies to provide information about "any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee."
The Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives can use the same law with a group of seven members.
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