Congress Greenlights Measure to Make Public Epstein Documents
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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