The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his signature. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach 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 is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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