Senate Passes Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to the president for his approval. He indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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