The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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