Latest news with #HomelandSecurityandGovernmentalAffairsCommittee
New Straits Times
31-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Democrats dig deep: Obscure law used to smoke out Epstein files
WASHINGTON: Democrats moved Wednesday to force Donald Trump to release files from the investigation into notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, invoking an obscure law to keep up the pressure on an issue that has roiled the US president's administration. The White House has been facing increasingly intense demands to be more transparent about the case of the disgraced financier, who died in federal prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. The president raised further questions about his past relationship with Epstein on Tuesday when he told reporters he fell out with his former friend after he "stole" female employees from the spa at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The Justice Department angered Trump supporters earlier this month when it confirmed that Epstein had died by suicide and had no secret "client list" – rebuffing conspiracy theories held by Trump's far-right supporters about supposedly high-level Democratic complicity. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee wrote to the Justice Department asking for the materials under a section of federal law known as the "rule of five." "The public has a right to know who enabled, knew of, or participated in one of the most heinous sex trafficking operations in history," Schumer told reporters at the Capitol. "Let me remind everyone of what's happened in recent months. Donald Trump campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. He broke that promise." The measure – introduced a century ago but rarely used – requires government departments to provide relevant information if any five members of the Senate's chief watchdog panel request it. It is not clear if it could be enforced in court, but even if the effort fails it keeps the spotlight on an issue that has upended Trump's summer, dividing Republicans and leading to the early closure of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Trump has urged his supporters to drop demands for the Epstein files, but Democrats in Congress – with limited Republican support – have also been seeking a floor vote to force their release. House Oversight Committee Democrats, backed by some Republicans, approved a subpoena last week for the Justice Department to hand over the documents, although the demand has yet to be sent. Lawmakers have also been seeking testimony from Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison for her role in his alleged crimes. Maxwell's lawyer has said she would speak to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee if granted immunity for her testimony. "The Oversight Committee will respond to Ms Maxwell's attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity for her testimony," a spokesman for the panel said. Democrats have tried to attach votes on the Epstein files to unrelated bills multiple times, prompting Speaker Mike Johnson to send lawmakers home for the summer a day early last week, shutting down the efforts. Senate Democrats launched a separate effort to get the files released via a bill called the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but this cannot even be taken up until the House reconvenes in September. Meanwhile the Supreme Court's justices are expected to consider at a Sept 29 conference ahead of their October term whether to hear an appeal by Maxwell of her sex trafficking conviction.
Politico
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Democrats' fight-or-flight dilemma comes to a head in the Senate
The immediate stakes for Democrats' fight-or-flight dilemma are relatively limited — the fate of their summer recess, to be precise. Republicans want Democrats to agree to accelerate the confirmations of dozens of the roughly 150 pending Trump nominees before they allow senators to leave Washington. Democrats are seeking a 'quid pro quo,' in the words of Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois. The main idea under discussion is getting the White House to release frozen agency funding while still holding up some of Trump's most controversial picks. But some Democrats like Warren are questioning why they should agree to help the Trump administration fill its ranks at all. Booker's outburst is hanging over the decision (though even he showed pragmatism this week, allowing two of the police bills in the larger package to advance). The bigger fight, senators agree, will come in September, and some Democrats are already warning that they need to stiffen their spines — and get their strategy settled — ahead of a potentially messy shutdown brawl. They aren't there yet. But Schumer convened another special caucus lunch on Wednesday to talk through potential September strategies. One idea Democrats are discussing would be to secure a commitment from Republicans that they would not pursue additional funding clawbacks following this month's successful 'rescissions' votes, according to a person granted anonymity to disclose the private deliberations. There's plenty of skepticism that they can trust the GOP to stick any deal, however, and they are also discussing possible policy demands, such as preserving Affordable Care Act tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year 'We're having, I think, very productive discussions about what our priorities are,' Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said after leaving the caucus lunch Wednesday. He added that, based on the discussion, Democrats 'are going to have a pretty good consensus position.' As they hash out demands for the nominations and shutdown battles, Senate Democrats are trying to show some fight in smaller ways. They continue to try and put the GOP on the back foot regarding the so-called 'Epstein files' — the yet-to-be released investigative records pertaining to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Schumer and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Democrats invoked a little-known law this week to try to force the administration to hand over the files — a move almost certain to be spurned by the Trump administration.
Politico
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Senate Democrats try to force DOJ's hand on Epstein files
Senate Democrats are using an obscure federal law in an attempt to force President Donald Trump's Justice Department to hand over information related to Jeffrey Epstein. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that DOJ turn over the 'full and complete Epstein files.' Democrats are invoking a rarely used provision that requires an executive branch agency to hand over requested information when it's requested by at least five members of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Schumer, top committee Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan and other panel Democrats are expected to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss the letter and their latest effort to force the administration to release the files related to the late convicted sexual predator. The New York Times first reported the letter to Bondi. Senate Democrats have been seeking to increase public pressure on the administration to try to release the files or hand over information to Congress. Schumer recently called for Trump officials to provide a closed-door briefing to senators on the Epstein files. This week he called for the FBI to conduct a counterintelligence threat assessment related to the files. GOP divisions over Trump's handling of the Epstein files threw House Republicans into chaos last week, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson to send the chamber home early. While Senate Republicans have blocked an Epstein resolution on the floor, and had their counterproposals also shot down by Democrats, they've so far mostly sidestepped that level of internal drama.
Reuters
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Senate Democrats want answers on Trump federal employee buyout offer
WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Two Democratic senators on Tuesday said they had asked the White House for key details about the Trump administration's financial incentive offer to about 2 million federal workers to quit their jobs. Senator Gary Peters, top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Richard Blumenthal, lead Democrat on an investigations subcommittee, said the "promises made to federal workers in this program contravene existing law" and "will contribute untold amounts to government waste and inefficiency." They want detailed weekly data on how many workers have sought to take part by agency and how agencies will function without those workers.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate Democrats want answers on Trump federal employee buyout offer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Democratic senators on Tuesday said they had asked the White House for key details about the Trump administration's financial incentive offer to about 2 million federal workers to quit their jobs. Senator Gary Peters, top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Richard Blumenthal, lead Democrat on an investigations subcommittee, said the "promises made to federal workers in this program contravene existing law" and "will contribute untold amounts to government waste and inefficiency." They want detailed weekly data on how many workers have sought to take part by agency and how agencies will function without those workers.
