The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to the president for his approval. The president signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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