The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Trump for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
Additional News Updates
- Trump is under fire for referring to a journalist as ‘piggy’ during a clash onboard Air Force One.
- Federal judge rejects ‘discriminatory’ maps in the state of Texas that gave Republicans more districts.
- A significant number of Department of Education's authorities transferred to different agencies as part of White House efforts.
- Mass federal immigration sweeps move to the state's capital, with local officials reporting ongoing activities.
