The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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