The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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