The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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