The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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