The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his approval. The president signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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