The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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