The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up 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,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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