The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
Additional Headlines
- The president faces criticism for calling a correspondent as ‘piggy’ during a disagreement onboard Air Force One.
- Federal judge disallows ‘discriminatory’ maps in the state of Texas that allocated GOP extra districts.
- Many of US education agency’s powers transferred to different agencies as part of administration efforts.
- Large-scale operations move to North Carolina capital, with representatives confirming ongoing activities.
