The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. He stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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