The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to the president for his endorsement. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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