The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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