The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
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 a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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