The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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