Congress Approves Legislation to Disclose Epstein Documents
The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Trump for his approval. Trump stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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