The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would reveal personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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