The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Trump for his approval. The president stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for months rejected the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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