The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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