Senate acts with lightning pace to go Epstein information launch after Trump offers inexperienced mild | EUROtoday

The U.S. Senate moved quickly to go the laws to compel the Justice Department to launch information associated to the late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, simply a few hours after the House of Representatives nearly unanimously handed the laws.

The Senate didn’t add amendments, regardless of overtures from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had initially opposed the preliminary vote within the House till President Donald Trump made a last-minute about-face to say he would signal the laws.

“When a bill passes the House for 27 to one and the president said he’ll sign it into law, I’m not sure that there’s going to be a need for an amendment or desire for an amendment process,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune advised The Independent after the House held its vote.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) requested unanimous consent for the laws to deem it handed as quickly because it got here to the Senate flooring, sending it to Trump’s desk.

“The American people have waited long enough. They want to see what’s in it,” Schumer advised The Independent because the House ready to vote on the laws earlier Tuesday.

The vote bookends a protracted course of on Capitol Hill to drive the Trump administration to launch information associated to the late convicted intercourse offender who preyed on scores of women and younger ladies, lots of whom got here to Capitol Hill to plead their case to launch the information.

But Republicans appeared relieved to maneuver on from the complete episode.

“We’ve got other important things to do, so I’m glad it’s behind us,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) advised The Independent.

In July, the Department of Justice and the FBI launched a two-page memo saying Epstein didn’t have a “client list” and that he probably killed himself when authorities arrested him and positioned him in federal custody in 2019.

In flip, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) launched a discharge petition to get round congressional management to drive a vote to launch the information. Every Democrat signed the petition alongside Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.

But the petition languished for months after Johnson refused to swear in Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) after she received a particular election to interchange her father. Johnson lastly swore in Grijalva final week.

Initially, Trump decried the efforts, calling them in September a “Democrat hoax” the identical day that Epstein survivors got here to the Hill to plead their case. That dissatisfied the victims, a few of whom supported Trump.

“I voted for him, I regret that,” Haley Robson, a survivor, advised The Independent. “I have offered him several opportunities to, if not, talk to survivors, meet with our attorneys, talk to them, but like I said, just very skeptical of moving forward and what the agenda is.”

Trump then modified his thoughts and stated he would signal the laws. After the passage within the House, he made a meandering, long-winded submit saying he’d fairly see Republicans concentrate on legislative accomplishments in his administration and transfer on.

“I don’t care when the Senate passes the House Bill, whether tonight, or at some other time in the near future,” Trump stated on Truth Social.

Trump giving his consent to the vote meant that Republicans didn’t danger crossing the president and receiving the wrath he lobbed at Greene, lengthy certainly one of his most stalwart defenders.

“The President rightly called on the House to support the release of the Epstein files. I’m glad he did so,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) advised The Independentall whereas plugging his podcast the place he stated he did an episode.

But this doesn’t assure that all the information that survivors need can be launched. Trump beforehand instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to analyze Epstein’s ties to Democratic officers like former president Bill Clinton and his former Treasury secretary Larry Summers, in addition to LinkedIn founder and Democratic megadonor Reid Hoffman, which Bondi stated she would do.

“He’s about hiding it, and my apprehension is he continues to do that,” Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) advised The Independent. “That’s what all these investigations are that he’s directed Attorney General Bondi to do.”

Schumer stated Democrats will work to verify Bondi doesn’t withhold paperwork.

“We have many different ways that we are going to do everything we can to see that it comes out,” he advised The Independent. “Pressure works.”