The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump 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 measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal specific data of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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