Senate Greenlights Bill to Make Public Jeffrey Epstein Documents
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of official records 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. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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