Congress Passes Bill to Disclose Jeffrey Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of investigative files related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his approval. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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