The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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