The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would reveal specific data of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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