The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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