The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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