The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Trump for his approval. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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