The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team 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 Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal personal information of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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