The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his approval. The president indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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