The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to the president for his endorsement. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
Other News Updates
- The president receives backlash for referring to a correspondent as ‘piggy’ during a clash aboard Air Force One.
- Judge blocks ‘racially gerrymandered’ maps in Texas that awarded GOP additional districts.
- Many of Department of Education's authorities reassigned to other federal departments as part of administration efforts.
- Large-scale operations move to North Carolina capital, with representatives confirming ongoing activities.
