The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Trump for his signature. He indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal personal information of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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