The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to Donald Trump for his approval. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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