The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. He indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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