The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public personal information of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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