The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
Additional News Updates
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