The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation 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 passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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