The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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