The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose identifying details of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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