The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his approval. Trump stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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