The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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