The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. The president stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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