The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. He indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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