Senate Democrats are invoking a little-known legal provision in an effort to force President Donald Trump’s administration to release files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose ties to powerful figures, including Trump, have long fueled public scrutiny and political controversy.
In a formal letter to the Department of Justice this week, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee cited a rarely used provision known as the “rule of five.” The century-old measure allows any five members of a Senate oversight panel to compel the release of certain federal records from executive branch agencies.
The move is the latest attempt by Democrats to pressure the Trump administration into complete transparency over what they allege is the suppression of key documents from Epstein’s federal prosecution and death in 2019. Epstein died in a Manhattan federal jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls.
🚨BREAKING: Sen. Chuck Schumer invokes century-old law called “Rule of Five” to FORCE the DOJ to release ALL documents related to Jeffery Epstein.
“When any five senators on the Homeland Security Committee call on the executive branch, the executive branch must comply.” pic.twitter.com/FlaA5SgQcK
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) July 30, 2025
“The American people deserve the full truth about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and connections,” Schumer said in a statement. “This administration must stop stonewalling and release the files.”
While the legal power of the “rule of five” remains uncertain, and may not be enforceable in court, the effort marks an escalation in the political fight over the Epstein files and the Trump administration’s handling of related records. Democrats argue the law gives Congress the authority to access non-classified materials that could shed light on how Epstein operated and who may have enabled or benefited from his activities.
The White House has so far declined to release any further documents, pointing to ongoing appeals, privacy concerns, and national security exemptions. Still, the issue continues to dominate headlines and political debate.
The Rule of Five:
Federal law requires government agencies to provide information if any five members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee request it.
And we’re using it to force Trump and Bondi to release the Epstein files to us. pic.twitter.com/hkrVw76oUm
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 30, 2025
President Trump added fuel to the controversy on Tuesday when he addressed his past friendship with Epstein during an exchange with reporters in Scotland. Trump claimed their falling-out occurred after Epstein “stole” spa employees from Mar-a-Lago, his private Florida resort. He further suggested one of those employees may have been Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers.
“He stole people that worked for me,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ He did it again, and I threw him out of the place.”
Trump’s comments have done little to calm the storm surrounding his connection to Epstein, which has increasingly divided his party and led to rare fractures within Republican ranks. Some conservative lawmakers have called for more transparency, while others have accused Democrats of using the issue for political gain.
The uproar has already had tangible political effects. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives abruptly ended its summer session ahead of schedule amid rising tensions and mounting questions about who may be implicated in unsealed records.
Legal experts say the “rule of five” is unlikely to be a silver bullet, but politically, the move keeps the spotlight squarely on the administration. Even if the Justice Department refuses to comply, Democrats believe they can force the issue into public view, especially as court fights over other Epstein-related materials play out.
As the pressure mounts, it has become clear that the Epstein scandal won’t go away, as both sides of the political aisle are demanding answers.
