The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to the president for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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