The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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