The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting 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. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry 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 announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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