The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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