Senate Republicans defeat Democratic push to force release of Epstein files

Republicans tabled Chuck Schumer's amendment, but Republicans Rand Paul and Josh Hawley joined Democrats in voting in favor of releasing all of the records.

WASHINGTON — The Republican-led Senate narrowly voted Wednesday to defeat an amendment introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to compel the Justice Department to release all of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The vote was 51-49 in favor of tabling the amendment. Two Republicans — Rand Paul of Kentucky and Josh Hawley of Missouri — joined all 47 Democrats in voting against tabling the amendment.

“My position has long been I think we ought to release those files and trust the American people," Hawley told reporters, "just like we did with the MLK files and the JFK files.”

In a surprise move earlier Wednesday, Schumer had used a procedural tactic to force a floor vote on the Epstein files.

He pitched an amendment to the sweeping defense policy bill being debated by the Senate. His amendment mirrored the language of bipartisan legislation from Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who have vowed to force a similar vote in the House.