The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to Trump for his approval. Trump stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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