The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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