The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. He indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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