The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to the president for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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