The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. The president indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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