The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-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 delay the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. He indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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