Senate Republicans Block Dem Push to Disclose Epstein Files

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Wednesday narrowly blocked a push by Democrats to force the Justice Department to disclose its full investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, voting 51 to 49 to table an amendment that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had inserted into the annual defense authorization bill. Two Republican senators, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky, joined all 47 Democrats in opposing the move to table the measure, ensuring a recorded vote but falling short of persuading the GOP majority to take it up.

Schumer used an unusual procedural maneuver to attach the disclosure language to the must-pass defense bill, arguing the American people deserve to see the documents. The amendment would have required the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related material within 30 days of passage, identical, his office said, to a bipartisan resolution pending in the House. Schumer told reporters the volume of alleged obfuscation and coverups made the need for disclosure greater than ever.

Republican leaders countered that the amendment was unrelated to the defense legislation and amounted to political gamesmanship. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said...