The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating 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 long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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