The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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