Senate Approves Legislation to Make Public Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to the president for his approval. He indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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