Schumer’s Push for Epstein Files Vote Falls Short in Senate

Washington, D.C., Sept. 10, 2025 - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday attempted to force a vote to compel the Justice Department to release its Jeffrey Epstein files, only to have Senate Republicans narrowly table his amendment to the annual defense authorization bill.

Schumer’s surprise procedural move aimed to spotlight demands for accountability and public transparency regarding the Epstein investigation. By linking his amendment to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, he sought to compel Attorney General Pam Bondi to make all unclassified records related to Epstein publicly available.

Schumer urged Republicans on the Senate floor: “There has been an abundance of deception, evasion, and cover-ups. The American people deserve to view everything contained in the Epstein files, and my amendment would ensure that occurs.” However, Republican opponents characterized the effort as a “political stunt” and moved to table it immediately.

Vote Tally and Reactions

  • The Senate voted 51-49 to table Schumer’s amendment, with Sens. Josh Hawley and Rand Paul joining Democrats in opposing the motion to kill it.
  • Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the measure as an “aggressive act” unbecoming of a minority leader.
  • Schumer vowed to use the recorded vote as a referendum on Republican commitment to transparency.

Context and Next Steps Schumer’s gambit follows months of pressure from House Republicans and Democrats who have filed bills and discharge petitions to force public disclosure of Epstein-related files. While the House Oversight Committee recently obtained new documents via subpoena, the Senate has largely avoided a floor vote-until now. Schumer and other Democrats warn that without a binding resolution, public trust in government accountability continues to erode.

With Congress facing a looming October 1 funding deadline, Schumer also reiterated calls for bipartisan negotiations on a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. He cautioned that short-term proposals lacking protections for healthcare subsidies and other priorities would not secure Democratic support.

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