The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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