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 official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.

Swift Approval in Congress

The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.

Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”

Next Steps

The bill next will be sent to Trump for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.

Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.

Support and Opposition

Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.

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