The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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