The upper chamber of Congress on this 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 US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to the president for his approval. He indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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