Congress Greenlights Bill to Make Public Jeffrey Epstein Documents
The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of investigative files concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Trump for his endorsement. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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