The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. He indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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