The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. He indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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