The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late 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. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to the president for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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