The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage 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 passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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