The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to the president for his approval. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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