The Home and Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve a invoice that might compel the Division of Justice to launch information associated to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
In a watershed second on Capitol Hill, each the Home and Senate permitted a invoice to launch the Jeffrey Epstein information. Practically each Home member voted sure, after which hours later, the Senate arrange a course of to unanimously approve it. The rapid-fire progress is a far cry from when Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie started pushing for the invoice months in the past.
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THOMAS MASSIE: We fought the president, the legal professional normal, the FBI director, the speaker of the Home and the vp to get this win.
DETROW: President Trump has stated he would signal the measure, marking an enormous reversal. Becoming a member of us now could be NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales. Hey, Claudia.
CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE: Hey, Scott.
DETROW: So Republicans hardly ever go towards President Trump’s needs. How did this come collectively for one thing that was so controversial for Republicans up till only a few days in the past?
GRISALES: Proper. This dragged out a lot of the yr, and this sudden decision was placing. First, a bit of little bit of background. Massie labored alongside California Democrat Ro Khanna, beginning what’s generally known as a discharge petition 4 months in the past. That is an arcane process that skips committees and management to power a flooring vote with signatures from a easy Home majority, they usually hit that mark final week. Trump fought all of them the way in which till this previous weekend as momentum shifted of their favor, and it set the stage for the Home to go it 427 to 1. And now the Senate’s shifting fairly quick. Minority Chief Chuck Schumer obtained unanimous consent to go the invoice routinely after the Home sends it over. Senate Majority Chief John Thune advised reporters tonight he expects that to occur tomorrow morning.
DETROW: Fast apart, Claudia. I didn’t know the Senate had the flexibility to go payments routinely. I realized one thing right now.
GRISALES: Proper. Precisely. And normally you see this occur with noncontroversial payments, payments which are low profile.
DETROW: Yeah.
GRISALES: That is precisely the other.
DETROW: Proper.
GRISALES: So it was very exceptional, Republicans actually wanting to show the web page on one thing that has taken up a lot oxygen…
DETROW: Let’s…
GRISALES: …Right here in Washington.
DETROW: Let’s discuss extra about that. President Trump did an abrupt about-face, stated his celebration ought to vote for this invoice, after combating it for months and in a extremely intense manner. How did Republicans on the Hill handle that vast shift?
GRISALES: Effectively, Home Speaker Mike Johnson advised reporters he had main points with the method, and he rejected claims this was a reversal.
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MIKE JOHNSON: Having now pressured the vote, none of us wish to go on report and in any manner be accused of not being for max transparency.
GRISALES: And he stated he voted sure with a caveat. He anticipated the Senate to amend the invoice to make sure survivors’ names had been redacted, amongst different issues. However Thune advised us tonight that wasn’t wanted, particularly after this overwhelming Home vote.
DETROW: Epstein survivors had been on the Capitol right now. What did they should say?
GRISALES: They advised harrowing tales of the abuse they suffered, and lots of requested Trump to cease injecting politics into this struggle. That features Jena-Lisa Jones, who was as soon as a Trump supporter. Let’s take a pay attention.
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JENA-LISA JONES: I voted for you, however your conduct on this concern has been a nationwide embarrassment.
GRISALES: She stated this struggle has been distressing, as Trump has gone backwards and forwards on releasing the information. And when the invoice lastly handed within the Home, survivors within the gallery broke out in cheers and emotional applause.
DETROW: One other large participant right here is Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a longtime ally of President Trump who pushed for this invoice to maneuver ahead, and that led to a reasonably high-profile rift.
GRISALES: Proper. After that conflict, Greene confronted a pipe bomb scare. Her son acquired a dying menace. At the moment, she stated she fought for Trump for six years and gave him her loyalty without cost.
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MARJORIE GREENE: I’ve by no means owed him something, however I fought for him for the insurance policies and for America First. And he known as me a traitor for standing with these girls.
GRISALES: And he or she says this struggle has now torn the MAGA motion aside. And as a reminder, Trump and Republicans made releasing these information a high precedence on the marketing campaign path final yr, and Democrats have added gasoline to this fireplace by pushing for this.
DETROW: What occurs subsequent?
GRISALES: President Trump is anticipated to signal the invoice as quickly as tomorrow. Then it will be as much as the Division of Justice to interpret what can and must be redacted and what can really be launched to the general public. It is unclear how lengthy that might take.
DETROW: NPR’s Claudia Grisales, thanks a lot.
GRISALES: Thanks.
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