The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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