The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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