The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of case documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for months rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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