The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. The president stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public identifying details of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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