The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. The president signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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