The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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