Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Demanding Trump And Bondi Abide By Federal Law And Release Full, Unedited Epstein Files

Twenty-seven days ago, every single United States Senator and all but one member of Congress sent Donald Trump a simple message. They said: Mr. President, release the Epstein files.

The American people have waited long enough for the truth about Jeffrey Epstein. Who knew about his crimes? Who stood by and said nothing? The Epstein files may have some very real answers on that. And it's time, it's time for the truth to come out.

Donald Trump promised to release the files, and to date he's failed to deliver. Well, no more. Congress has spoken and Donald Trump must comply.

Now, I want to be clear that the Epstein files is not a fight between Democrats and Republicans. It's a fight between those who want the truth and those who keep lying to the public. Between those who want the truth and those who want to cover it up. And if Donald Trump won't come clean, if he keeps hiding the truth, the American people are going to be asking a very simple question: what the hell is President Trump trying to hide? Why won't he release those files?

Now, because of the law Congress passed one month ago, the Department of Justice has until Friday to release these documents.

I will be blunt: We fully expect that Donald Trump and Pam Bondi will try every trick they can think up to weasel out of fully releasing the Epstein files. After all, we are dealing with Donald Trump here: a notorious liar and someone who has tried desperately to make Americans move on from Jeffrey Epstein. Why? Why is Donald Trump so afraid of these files? Well, as they say, when there is smoke, there is fire.

Mark my words, if Donald Trump and Pam Bondi try to hide the truth this Friday, the legal and political and public backlash will be ferocious. After all, it was the public who demanded these files be released. Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, people wanted the truth and continue to demand the truth. If Donald Trump releases just some of the Epstein files while unlawfully trying to hide others, the American people are going to see right through it. They are going to know he's hiding something.

Over the past few weeks, I've worked with Senate Democrats to partner with attorneys for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and with outside legal experts to explore every possibility, prepare for every eventuality, and take every available step to ensure the administration fully complies with the law.

If Donald Trump and Pam Bondi unlawfully withhold Epstein documents that they don't want the public to see, we will know about it. And if the administration tries to weaponize the narrow and careful statutory exemptions Congress provided, to hide the truth, we will know about it. If the administration provides anything less than a full and comprehensive release of the Epstein files, legal and political consequences will almost certainly follow.

In a year when Democrats and Republicans have disagreed so fiercely on almost everything, on this issue both parties are practically on the same page. It's how the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed with near unanimity. The American people want the truth-Democrats, independents, MAGA Republicans, and everyone in between.

So, President Trump: it is time to release the Epstein files, all of them. It is time to stop hiding the truth, Donald Trump. It is time, Donald Trump, for you to keep your promise to the American people, the promise you campaigned on. And Mr. Trump, if you fail to come clean, the American people will demand to know: what the hell are you trying to hide?