The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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