The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to the president for his endorsement. Trump stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for months downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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