The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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