The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded 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 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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