The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose personal information of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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