The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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