The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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