The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to Trump for his approval. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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