The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican 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.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, 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 declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal personal information of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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