The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Trump for his signature. He indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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