The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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