The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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