The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next heads to the president for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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