The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. He signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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