The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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