The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to the president for his approval. He stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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