The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a case 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 recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Trump for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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