Senate Passes Bill to Make Public Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his signature. He stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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