The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration gave in 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 Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to the president for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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