The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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