The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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