The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to the president for his endorsement. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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