The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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