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The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of investigative files concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.

Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers

The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.

The public have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”

Presidential Signature

The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.

Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.

Reaction

Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.

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