The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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