Senate Passes Legislation to Release Epstein Documents
The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure 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 GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case 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 does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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