Senate Passes Bill to Disclose Jeffrey Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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