The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. 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 adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. He signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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