The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to the president for his approval. The president indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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