The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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