The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. He stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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