The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to the president for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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