The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy 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 avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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