The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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