The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would reveal personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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