The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Trump for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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