The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of investigative files associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. He indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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