The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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