The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Trump for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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