Senate Approves Bill to Disclose Jeffrey Epstein Files
The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of investigative files associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his approval. He signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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