Senate Passes Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Files
The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. He signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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