Congress Passes Legislation to Release Jeffrey Epstein Files
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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