The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would disclose personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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