The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in 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.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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