The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action 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, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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