The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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