 "US Senate approves release of Epstein files, sends bill to Trump")
The US Senate has voted unanimously to pass the House-backed bill that will prompt the Justice Department to release all case files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill received an overwhelming number of votes in favour of the release following President Donald Trump’s sudden U-turn on the files’ fate.
The House voted 427-1 to pass the bill, with the measure being opposed by lone Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana, who voted against the release of the files that contain details of scandals that have rocked the politics of not just the US but across the world.
Congress approved the Epstein Files Transparency Act almost unanimously – compelling publication of unclassified documents detailing the investigation into the disgraced financier’s operations and jailhouse death, which was ruled a suicide.
As they passed the bill to finally release the files, lawmakers said that the public deserves an answer in a case that has over 1,000 alleged victims.
The passage of the bill was praised by both Republicans and Democrats alike, who hailed the Senate for moving things quickly to clear the way to send the case files bill to Trump for his signature.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said, “I didn’t know what Sen. Thune was going to do, but the smart play here was to do it by (unanimous consent). Nobody was going to object, and indeed, nobody did object. Now we can move on from the issue.”
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View AllHe added, “The president will sign the bill, and presumably the documents will be released and the American people can make up their minds.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont said that the bill was “long overdue” and acknowledged the four House Republican lawmakers to approve the bill in the face of “incredible resistance of President Trump.”
What’s next?
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told CNN that the House will officially transmit the bill requiring the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files on Wednesday morning. Once this happens, the bill will be formally approved by the House and sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Trump has pledged not to veto the legislation, but Washington-watchers are not expecting imminent, damning new revelations. It is, however, not clear when Trump will sign the bill ordering the Justice Department to release the files, a White House official has said.
The Justice Department has wide latitude to hold back information if its release “would jeopardise an active federal investigation.”
“I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein,” Trump told reporters Tuesday at an Oval Office event with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “I threw him out of my club many years ago because I thought he was a sick pervert.”
With inputs from agencies
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