The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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