The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance 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.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his approval. The president indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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