The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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