The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for months downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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