Senate Democrats are turning to an obscure and relatively untested legal provision in an attempt to obtain the “Epstein files” — documents related to the late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“After missteps and failed promises by your Department regarding these files it is essential that the Trump Administration provide full transparency,” reads a letter from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and all Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “We request all documents, files, evidence, or other materials in the possession of DOJ or FBI related to United States ofAmerica v. Jeffrey Epstein.”
The letter, addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi and first obtained by The New York Times, utilizes the “rule of five,” a provision that mandates executive agencies must submit relevant information if it’s been requested by five members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs (or its House counterpart).