Senate Approves Bill to Disclose Jeffrey Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. He stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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