The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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