The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his signature. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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