Congress Approves Measure to Release Jeffrey Epstein Documents
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. He signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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