The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next heads to the president for his endorsement. He signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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