The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to Trump for his signature. He indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
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 was concerned the measure would reveal personal information of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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