The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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