The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of case documents concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months dismissed the uproar 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 approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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