The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would make public identifying details of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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