The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged 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 formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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