Congress Approves Bill to Make Public Jeffrey Epstein Files
The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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