The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he was concerned the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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