The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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