The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for months dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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