The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Trump for his approval. He stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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