The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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