The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of case documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. The president signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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