The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of case documents concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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