The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of investigative files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to the president for his signature. He signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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