The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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