In a sharply divided Senate, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan — both Republicans from Alaska — voted Wednesday night in favor of tabling an amendment that would have required the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to release case files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The amendment, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑N.Y.), was narrowly defeated 51–49.
Schumer’s amendment, attached as part of debate over the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sought to force disclosure of Justice Department and other federal records in the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Supporters of the amendment argued that the public, especially survivors of Epstein’s abuse, deserve full transparency.
All Senate Democrats voted in favor of releasing the files, joined by Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky. The rest of the GOP, including Murkowski and Sullivan, joined in voting to table (set aside) the amendment, blocking its consideration.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑Alaska) said she voted against the motion to release the files not because she opposes transparency per se, but because she viewed Schumer’s amendment as a last‑minute procedural surprise. She called it a “political stunt” and said the process was flawed.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R‑Alaska) defended his vote similarly, saying that while he believes as much information as possible should be released in a way that protects survivors, he opposed Schumer’s approach of forcing the issue into the defense bill knowing it might be stripped out in later negotiations.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer pressed repeatedly for the files’ release, arguing that Republicans have long claimed support for transparency but now had a moment to prove it. He criticized what he described as obstruction, cover‑ups, and misinformation.
The Alaska Democratic Party sharply criticized Murkowski and Sullivan, accusing them of being complicit in a “cover‑up” and failing to respond to both survivors and constituents who want disclosure.
The vote has heightened scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s past promises. During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to release Epstein‑related files; however, after entering office, his administration has declared that no comprehensive “client list” exists and has resisted further disclosure.
This vote goes beyond procedural maneuvering. For many, it symbolizes a larger struggle over how much of the Epstein case — including possible connections to influential individuals — remains hidden from public view.
As Schumer put it on the Senate floor:
“The American people deserve transparency…. If Republicans vote no, you’ll be saying to the American people that they should not see the Epstein files.”
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