Senate Republicans narrowly voted 51–49 to block an amendment requiring the Justice Department to release all Jeffrey Epstein files, after Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) used a surprise procedural move that caught GOP leaders off guard. The vote exposed divisions within the party, with Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) siding with Democrats in favor of transparency.

Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) appeared frustrated, calling the move a “political stunt,” while Schumer argued Republicans were refusing accountability. The fight over the Epstein records has now complicated negotiations on the must-pass defense bill, highlighting the growing pressure for disclosure among voters.