The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to the president for his signature. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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