The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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