The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of case documents related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to the president for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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