The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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