The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to the president for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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