The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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