The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. He indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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