The Senate narrowly defeated an effort by Democrats to force the release of files related to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The vote on Wednesday came as a surprise to many Republican senators after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made a rare procedural move to force consideration of his amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.
The final vote was 51-49, with Republicans largely sticking together to table Schumer’s amendment. Only two GOP senators broke ranks to join all 47 Democrats in opposing the motion to dismiss the amendment. Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky voted with Democrats, supporting the effort to release the documents.
