The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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