The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to the president for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would reveal specific data of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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