The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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