The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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