Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that he will introduce a resolution to force the U.S. Department of Justice to release all of the files it has on the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Schumer's resolution would direct the Senate to initiate legal action against the Justice Department for what he and fellow Democrats characterize as an incomplete release of documents connected to Epstein and his associate and romantic partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.
"I am introducing a resolution directing the Senate to initiate legal action against the DOJ for its blatant disregard of the law in its refusal to release the complete Epstein files," Schumer wrote on X. "The American people deserve full transparency, and Senate Democrats will use every tool at our disposal to ensure they get it."
NEWS: I am introducing a resolution directing the Senate to initiate legal action against the DOJ for its blatant disregard of the law in its refusal to release the complete Epstein files.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 22, 2025
The American people deserve full transparency, and Senate Democrats will use every tool at… pic.twitter.com/jLg6giXKBD
The move comes after the DOJ issued a partial, heavily redacted release of the information regarding Epstein, Maxwell, and various influential, powerful people like Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Bill Gates.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act passed both chambers of Congress with overwhelming support and was signed into law on November 19, 2025. It required the Justice Department to make publicly available all unclassified documents and records in the department's possession relating to Epstein, Maxwell, and others connected to the investigations.
Despite that deadline passing last Friday, Schumer and other critics say the Justice Department's release has been insufficient. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters that the department was releasing documents in phases throughout December in order to protect victims' identities and manage the complexities of redacting sensitive material.
In the partial releases so far, tens of thousands of pages have been disclosed, but many records remain heavily redacted or omitted entirely. Some files initially put online were temporarily removed, prompting further questions about the department's compliance with the law.
The released files, however, contain hundreds of images, many heavily redacted, including Epstein with numerous public figures. These include photos of Epstein with former President Bill Clinton, entertainers such as Michael Jackson, and high-profile individuals like Prince Andrew and Bill Gates. Notably absent is President Trump, who is known to have connections with the late sex trafficker, which many have alleged is a result of manipulation on the part of the Trump administration.
Lawmakers have expressed bipartisan frustration with the process, and some, including Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California and Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, are exploring additional measures, such as contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi. However, the Senate is currently in recess until early January, and with Republican control of the chamber, the resolution's prospects for passage remain uncertain.
