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 House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his signature. He stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
Additional News Updates
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- Judge disallows ‘racially gerrymandered’ maps in the state of Texas that allocated GOP additional districts.
- Many of Department of Education's authorities transferred to different agencies as part of administration efforts.
- Mass federal immigration sweeps extend to Raleigh, with local officials noting ongoing activities.
