The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to the president for his signature. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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