The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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