Senate Approves Measure to Make Public Epstein Documents
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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