The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to the president for his endorsement. Trump stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for months rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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