The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his endorsement. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said 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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