Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

applegrove

(131,034 posts)
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 07:42 PM Yesterday

(Blocked). Schumer just called for unanimous consent to sue the US DOJ for violating the Epstein .. Act:

Last edited Thu Feb 5, 2026, 11:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Senate whip blocks it:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/senate/5724576-epstein-files-lawsuit-senate-schumer-barrasso/amp/

Brian Allen
@allenanalysis
🚨 BREAKING: Chuck Schumer just called for unanimous consent to pass a resolution to sue the United States Department of Justice for violating the Epstein Transparency Act.

Ron Stonebear Shields (@stonebear4747.bsky.social) 2026-02-06T00:40:32.120Z


Chuck Schumer just called for unanimous consent to pass a resolution to sue the US DOJ for violating the Epstein Transparency Act
34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
(Blocked). Schumer just called for unanimous consent to sue the US DOJ for violating the Epstein .. Act: (Original Post) applegrove Yesterday OP
Sounds like... 2naSalit Yesterday #1
Huh? Unanimous consent means no vote is necessary. Wiz Imp Yesterday #3
Theoretically... 2naSalit Yesterday #5
I think it was worth a shot. I'm sure he expected a Republican to object but Wiz Imp 23 hrs ago #19
Wyoming has a pedo protector RainCaster Yesterday #8
ALL the Republican NewLarry 7 hrs ago #30
The original bill passed with Unanimous Consent kurtyboy Yesterday #14
That's because the Republicans who objected to it were likely assured the most damaging files Wiz Imp 23 hrs ago #18
All the more reason to KEEP VOTING DEM!!! calimary 4 hrs ago #34
Excellent! mcar Yesterday #2
Good. Joinfortmill Yesterday #4
Sounds like Chucky is getting a bit worried about the backlash going on lately. Clouds Passing Yesterday #6
He should be. FoxNewsSucks Yesterday #12
Oppose. Obstruct. Outwit. Clouds Passing 13 hrs ago #22
Trying to look like doing something when knows it won't be done Attilatheblond Yesterday #7
Schumer doesn't pursue some course of action because he knows it will be blocked by Senate Repubs: "He's not FIGHTING." LudwigPastorius 23 hrs ago #17
I'm confused angrychair Yesterday #9
why pass the 14th amendment rampartd 19 hrs ago #20
Agree bucolic_frolic 8 hrs ago #29
No difference VGuerra276 Yesterday #10
A court order does not have the same effect as a "strongly worded letter." SunSeeker Yesterday #11
Are you sure litigation will resolve this issue? I think it's a step in the right direction though. Ilikepurple Yesterday #15
their contention will be that the billionaire pedophiles are the "victims." rampartd 19 hrs ago #21
I expect VGuerra276 11 hrs ago #23
Court orders got Kilmar and Liam home. SunSeeker 8 hrs ago #24
Did you hear that Liam's family is now being threatened with expedited removal proceedings? pnwmom 8 hrs ago #25
They're still in this country and can fight those proceedings in our court system, thanks to litigation. SunSeeker 8 hrs ago #28
I applaud this. It did not pass, but it at least made ripples in the pond. Ilikepurple Yesterday #13
Oh too bad. applegrove 23 hrs ago #16
Senator Schumer, if you want people on your side, gab13by13 8 hrs ago #26
Impeach the whole lot of traitors relogic 8 hrs ago #27
Blocked by Republicans. Zelda_Orchid 6 hrs ago #31
Still it's good he did it. Hope he does more like this. Scrivener7 6 hrs ago #32
at least someone tried. Layzeebeaver 5 hrs ago #33

2naSalit

(100,951 posts)
1. Sounds like...
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 08:04 PM
Yesterday

He has the votes.

Now if the House will get off their asses and impeach him, the Senate might be in the mood to oust him out of self preservation.

Wiz Imp

(9,272 posts)
3. Huh? Unanimous consent means no vote is necessary.
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 08:21 PM
Yesterday

Barasso (Wyoming) objected, so the legislation is going nowhere. Thune will never bring it to the floor for a roll call vote.

2naSalit

(100,951 posts)
5. Theoretically...
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 08:45 PM
Yesterday

He does for unanimous consent, good as having the votes. But, as you said, somebody objected so it's all for naught.

Wiz Imp

(9,272 posts)
19. I think it was worth a shot. I'm sure he expected a Republican to object but
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 11:33 PM
23 hrs ago

hoped they might do the right thing and let it pass with unanimous consent. At least now, the Republican party is firmly on the record as approving the blocking of Epstein files being released. Their fraudulent "support" of the original bill has been exposed.

Wiz Imp

(9,272 posts)
18. That's because the Republicans who objected to it were likely assured the most damaging files
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 11:25 PM
23 hrs ago

would never be released regardless of the law.

calimary

(89,289 posts)
34. All the more reason to KEEP VOTING DEM!!!
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 05:59 PM
4 hrs ago

Always look for the D on the ballot. And vote accordingly.

Smart voting is voting DEM.

LudwigPastorius

(14,374 posts)
17. Schumer doesn't pursue some course of action because he knows it will be blocked by Senate Repubs: "He's not FIGHTING."
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 11:23 PM
23 hrs ago

Schumer pursues some course of action even though he knows it will be blocked by Senate Repubs: "He's just trying to look like he's DOING SOMETHING."

LOL He can't win.

Minority Leaders are served a shit sandwich on day one. Asking them to produce prime rib isn't realistic.

angrychair

(11,897 posts)
9. I'm confused
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 09:05 PM
Yesterday

The law requires compliance does it not? Why write a law without any consequences for violating it? It's toothless and pointless.

This is embarrassing.

rampartd

(4,228 posts)
20. why pass the 14th amendment
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 03:30 AM
19 hrs ago

if the supremes will find that it cant even keep an insurrectionist off the ballot or disqualify him if he wins?

we need to revisit a lot of this stuff.

bucolic_frolic

(54,481 posts)
29. Agree
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:46 PM
8 hrs ago

Reconstruction Congress put it all out there in broad terms for posterity, to protect the country in future tiimes.

Republican SCOTUS couldn't even understand it. No fast tracking on that one.

SunSeeker

(57,882 posts)
11. A court order does not have the same effect as a "strongly worded letter."
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 09:24 PM
Yesterday

DOJ is contending the redantions were necessary to protect the innocent and this complied with the law. Litigation will resolve that issue. The judge will be able to have an in camera review of the documents to determine if what was redacted was something that should have been redacted under the law. If it turns out it should not have been redacted, the judge will order it disclosed, and hold administration officials in contempt, even jail them, if they don't comply.


So other than this litigation, what do you suggest Democrats have in their power to do that would be more effective?

Ilikepurple

(462 posts)
15. Are you sure litigation will resolve this issue? I think it's a step in the right direction though.
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 10:38 PM
Yesterday

There are many variables that may interfere with this outcome, the least of which is not the DOJ’s compliance in providing the unaltered, unredacted documents in itself. I wish I had the continued faith in the built in guardrails to check and balance the branches of government, but this issue is further complicated by the sheer volume of documents, many redacted and perhaps millions not produced. Furthermore, we don’t know how successful the DOJ will be at delaying this process. That’s a heavy burden on one judge’s review. Perhaps info will drop where public pressure will force better compliance from the DOJ, but until then I agree with you that litigation seems to be our most effective, if not surefire, strategy.

rampartd

(4,228 posts)
21. their contention will be that the billionaire pedophiles are the "victims."
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 03:34 AM
19 hrs ago

because "epstein made them do it"

"epstein was only trafficking to himself" patel )under oath)

VGuerra276

(83 posts)
23. I expect
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:05 AM
11 hrs ago

I expect Democrats to be standing in front of a microphone and in front of much media as possible to raise hell about what's going on today. There is very little opposition going on these days by Schumer and Jeffries. There needs to be more and it's very frustrating to us who care so much about our democracy that little to nothing is being done. I do expect more. Leadership needs to be changed among democrats. They need to follow the will of the people and not the will of their corporate donors. And even more so now that we know that the frump Administration does not follow Court orders.

SunSeeker

(57,882 posts)
24. Court orders got Kilmar and Liam home.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:05 PM
8 hrs ago

Court orders got the National Guard out of LA.

Arm flapping and screaming into a microphone would not have accomplished that.

The Trump administration has been forced to comply with a huge slew of court orders. Litigation has been one of our most effective weapons against Trump.

pnwmom

(110,216 posts)
25. Did you hear that Liam's family is now being threatened with expedited removal proceedings?
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:23 PM
8 hrs ago

His lawyer is fighting this, but anything could happen.

SunSeeker

(57,882 posts)
28. They're still in this country and can fight those proceedings in our court system, thanks to litigation.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:31 PM
8 hrs ago

Yes, anything can happen, but litigation has been a strong weapon against Trump.

Ilikepurple

(462 posts)
13. I applaud this. It did not pass, but it at least made ripples in the pond.
Thu Feb 5, 2026, 10:23 PM
Yesterday

I’m happy to see some political gamesmanship that requires at least one republican to be clear where they stand and say no, thereby implicating other republicans to at least some.

relogic

(172 posts)
27. Impeach the whole lot of traitors
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:28 PM
8 hrs ago

Not to slam the optimism too much, but irrespective of court orders, stern letters and other noble attempts-

It’s the traitors that still sit across the isle who already decided the country belongs only to them. They have oligarch media, military machine, LE, SC, Executive immunity, corporate supremacy, and the power structures that matter overwhelmingly. It is depressing, but a fact nonetheless.

There is an intoxicating cloud of selfishness and ignorance drawn into these repugs and their dizziness seems unstoppable.
So, let’s stop’em in their tracks once and for all. Get out in March and march against their s****y economy, police state, treason, desecration of laws, …

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»(Blocked). Schumer just c...