The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to the president for his signature. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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