WASHINGTON, January 7, 2026 – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized the Trump administration on Tuesday for what he described as deliberate stonewalling in the release of records related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, accusing the Department of Justice (DOJ) of failing to comply with federal law.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer highlighted the slow pace of disclosures under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. "It's been 18 days since the administration was required by law to release Epstein files to the American public, and it's been 15 days since the administration has released any documentation on Jeffrey Epstein," Schumer said.
He pointed to a recent DOJ court filing revealing that less than 1% of the files have been made public. "Less than 1% in 18 days, in two and a half weeks. Are you kidding me?" Schumer remarked. "They say they were preparing well in advance, and they've only gotten 1% done? It's deliberately stonewalling of the American people."
Schumer called the delay "an outlandishly naked attempt to hide the truth and defy the law," adding that it has raised public suspicions. "People across America are wondering, scratching their heads and asking, 'What the hell is (President) Donald Trump hiding?'" he said. The New York Democrat demanded immediate full release without further obfuscation and indicated that the Senate would explore options to enforce compliance.
The remarks follow a DOJ update on January 6, in which Attorney General Pam Bondi informed a federal judge that only about 125,575 pages—across 12,285 documents—have been released, while more than 2 million additional documents remain under review for victim privacy protections and redactions. The department has mobilized over 400 lawyers and 100 FBI analysts, describing the effort as "all-hands-on-deck," but no new releases have occurred since late December.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump on November 19, 2025, mandated the public release of all unclassified DOJ records related to Epstein's investigations, prosecutions, flight logs, and associates within 30 days—setting a deadline of December 19, 2025. The bipartisan legislation passed Congress nearly unanimously after initial administration resistance.
Initial releases in December included photographs, emails, and investigative materials, but were criticized for heavy redactions and the temporary removal of certain images, including one involving Trump. Subsequent discoveries expanded the scope: first over 1 million additional documents in late December, then estimates reaching 5.2 million pages by year-end.
Epstein, a financier convicted in 2008 of procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida—a deal critics labeled lenient—faced federal sex trafficking charges in 2019 before dying by suicide in a New York jail cell. Allegations persist that he operated a vast network involving elite figures in politics, business, and academia.
Trump has longstanding social ties to Epstein from the 1990s but has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in criminal activities. During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to release the files, framing it as exposing government secrecy. However, the administration's handling has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, with some Republicans also expressing frustration over delays.
Victims' advocates and lawmakers emphasize the need for transparency to identify enablers and provide closure. "The survivors and the public demand transparency and justice," said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a co-sponsor of the act.
DOJ officials maintain that delays stem from meticulous reviews to safeguard victim identities and sensitive material, not political motives. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated there is "no effort to hold anything back" due to names involved.
As congressional oversight intensifies, Democrats have explored legal actions, including potential lawsuits or contempt proceedings against DOJ leadership. The issue has fueled political tensions, with implications for trust in institutions amid ongoing debates over accountability in high-profile cases.
This story continues to evolve, underscoring persistent public interest in Epstein's network and the challenges of balancing transparency with privacy in historic investigations.
