The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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