The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. He indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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