The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to the president for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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