The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to the president for his approval. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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