The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Trump for his endorsement. He stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months rejected the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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