The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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