The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to the president for his approval. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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