The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his approval. Trump stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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