The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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