The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. He indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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