The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would reveal personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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