WASHINGTON (AP) — In a close vote, Senate Republicans defeated an effort Wednesday by Democrats to insert language into Congress’ annual defense authorization bill that would have forced the public release of case files on the sex trafficking investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein.

A newly uncovered trove of private emails from Jeffrey Epstein 's personal Yahoo account has provided the most detailed view yet into how the disgraced financier operated, revealing previously unreported communications with Ghislaine Maxwell and others that contradict her public denials and cast fresh scrutiny on those in Epstein's orbit.

Sens. Josh Hawley and Rand Paul voted with all Democrats to hold a vote on Schumer's amendment, but enough Republicans voted to swat it down, meaning it will no longer be considered. It would have taken 60 votes to pass the Schumer amendment.

The GOP tabled Schumer's amendment, but Republicans Rand Paul and Josh Hawley joined Democrats in voting in favor of releasing all of the records.

Democrats want CEO Jamie Dimon and other executives to testify about keeping Epstein as a bank client until 2013.

Peter Mandelson, one of most formidable and prominent figures in British politics for 30 years, twice bouncing back from scandals that forced him from government, was finally brought down by his close connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Epstein saga facing Trump continues to develop. House Democrats on Monday released an alleged 2003 birthday note said to be from Trump to Epstein—something Trump has tried to swat away as a “dead issue,” and the White House says is “fake.”

Jimmy Fallon feasted on President Donald Trump ’s rare visit to a restaurant. On “The Tonight Show” Wednesday the host mentioned Trump’s meal at Joe’s Seafood, then tweaked it into another zinger about the Epstein files.