The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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