The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his endorsement. The president stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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