The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to the president for his endorsement. He stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said 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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