The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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