The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. The president signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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