The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to Trump for his approval. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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