The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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