The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
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 voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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