The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next goes to the president for his endorsement. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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