The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Trump for his endorsement. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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