The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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