The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to Trump for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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