The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to the president for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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