The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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