The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period 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 Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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