The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. He signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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