The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would make public identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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