The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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