The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to Trump for his approval. He stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would disclose specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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