The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. He signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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