The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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