The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“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 approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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