The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose personal information of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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