The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to the president for his approval. He indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal personal information of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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