The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift 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. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for months rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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