The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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