The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. The president indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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