The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting 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,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his approval. The president indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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