The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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