The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for months rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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