The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would make public personal information of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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