The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to the president for his endorsement. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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