Senate Approves Measure to Release Jeffrey Epstein Files
The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. The president indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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