The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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