The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to the president for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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