Congress Approves Bill to Make Public Jeffrey Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Trump for his approval. He indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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