Senate Democratic leader Schumer plays the Epstein card in shutdown showdown

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Sunday that Republicans care more about thwarting the release of the Epstein files than negotiating a compromise to end the government shutdown.

Appearing on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Mr. Schumer said House Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to send lawmakers home on recess proves he is not serious about striking a deal with Democrats.

“The reason he sent them home is he is more interested in protecting the Epstein files than protecting the American people from the health care crisis,” Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, said Sunday.

Mr. Johnson dismissed the charge.

“It’s totally absurd,” the Louisiana Republican said on NBC’s “Meet the Press. “This has nothing to do with that. It’s another red herring.”

“The reason the government is closed because Chuck Schumer and 43 of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate have decided now to vote multiple times to keep the government closed,” the House speaker said.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, said Mr. Schumer is proving to be a feckless leader.

“[Mr. Schumer’s] rank-and-file members shouldn’t follow his lead on this,” Mr. Thune said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.” “This is where you need to separate from your leader and actually do the right thing for your constituents and for your country.”

Mr. Thune said Democrats will have another opportunity Monday to vote on the House-passed “clean” continuing resolution, which would keep the government funded through mid-November.

“I’m hoping that some of them have a change of heart,” the Senate leader said. “The Democrats need to come to that realization and understand their option in front of them here is to open up the government, and then we can talk about all these other things they want to have a conversation about.”

Republicans need eight Senate Democrats to support the plan. All but three Senate Democrats voted against the proposal last week.

Mr. Thune and Mr. Johnson say passing the short-term plan would open the door for the two sides to sort out their differences over health care.

Mr. Schumer and Democrats are demanding an extension of the enhanced COVID-19 subsidies for Obamacare, which are set to expire at the end of the year, jeopardizing health coverage for millions.

They are also demanding that Republicans reverse the future cuts to Medicaid spending that they included in President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which was signed into law earlier this year and includes stricter Medicaid eligibility requirements.

Mr. Thune said the Democrats’ plan includes $1.5 trillion in new spending and is a “nonstarter.”

Vice President J.D. Vance and Republicans insist Democrats are holding the government hostage over their desire to provide health care to illegal immigrants.

Democrats reject the claim.

“Zero federal dollars can go to undocumented immigrants through Medicare, through Medicaid, through [the Affordable Care Act,” Mr. Schumer said. “So we ought to be talking about the real issue here, which is we have a health care crisis in America caused by the Republicans.”

The Epstein files relate to the information the federal government has on convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who police say died by suicide in prison while awaiting trial in 2019.

The Department of Justice and the FBI earlier his year closed their investigation, saying they found no evidence of an Epstein client list.

There has since been a bipartisan effort underway on Capitol Hill to release the files, which have become fodder for conspiracy theorists who believe they could include a list of clients that may comprise influential politicians and business leaders.

Democrats say Mr. Johnson wants to delay the swearing-in of newly elected Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Arizona Democrat, because doing so would increase the chances the files are released.