The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of case documents related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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