The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the joint action 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 needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to Trump for his approval. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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