The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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