The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of investigative files related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would make public identifying details of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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