The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
This legislation next heads to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
