Overview

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and seven Homeland Security Committee Democrats formally invoked the Rule of Five on July 30 to demand the Justice Department and FBI hand over all Epstein-related documents by August 15.
• The Rule of Five, enacted in 1928, permits any five committee members to require federal agencies to provide information within their jurisdiction.
• The Justice Department confirmed receipt of the request but declined to comment, and Democrats have warned they will seek court enforcement if the agencies ignore the deadline.
• Republican senators offered divergent views, with some branding the maneuver a political stunt and others endorsing full transparency of the files.
• Lawmakers stressed that any released materials must include redactions to safeguard the identities and privacy of Epstein’s victims.