The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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