The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting 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. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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