The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to the president for his approval. The president signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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