The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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