The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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