Senate Passes Measure to Release Epstein Files
The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. He stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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