The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his approval. Trump stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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