Schumer Accuses Trump of Epstein Files 'Cover-Up'
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has accused former President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi of orchestrating a "massive cover-up" related to the Epstein case. Schumer alleges they have failed to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The accusation has intensified political battles over transparency and accountability in the high-profile case.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by Donald Trump on November 19, 2025, mandated the Justice Department to release all unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days. The law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, including a unanimous vote in the Senate. The December 19, 2025 deadline was not fully met. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a partial release of several hundred thousand files, with more to follow. Despite a subsequent release of 3 million pages on January 30, 2026, the Justice Department stated it had met its legal obligations and would release no more. Schumer's "cover-up" accusation intensified following reports that the document release was missing key files. Specifically, three FBI summaries of interviews with a woman who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her when she was a minor were reportedly withheld. The Justice Department is now examining whether those specific files were wrongly withheld. Before his presidency, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein had a social and professional relationship that began in the late 1980s and lasted until at least the early 2000s. In a 2002 interview, Trump called Epstein a "terrific guy" and said he was "a lot of fun to be with." Trump has since tried to distance himself from Epstein, claiming they had a falling out, with the timeline of this break varying in different accounts. The released files mention Trump more than 1,000 times. This includes flight logs showing Trump flew on Epstein's private jet multiple times in the 1990s, contradicting earlier denials. Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced intense criticism for her handling of the document release. During a congressional hearing, she defended the president and, at one point, refused a request to turn and apologize to Epstein survivors present in the room. Reports from The Wall Street Journal also alleged that Bondi had informed Trump his name appeared in the files as early as May 2025. The controversy has led to calls from other lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, to pursue contempt findings against Attorney General Bondi for the incomplete release.
