The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal personal information of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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