The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to the president for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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