The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin 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 address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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