The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for months downplayed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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