The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months rejected the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would disclose personal information of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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