The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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