The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal specific data of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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