The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to the president for his approval. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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