The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids 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 endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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