The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. He stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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