The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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