The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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