The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to the president for his endorsement. He stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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