The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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