The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. The president indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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