The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for months dismissed the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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