The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would make public identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
Additional News Updates
- The president is under fire for referring to a female Bloomberg reporter as ‘piggy’ during a confrontation onboard Air Force One.
- Federal judge rejects ‘discriminatory’ maps in the state of Texas that awarded GOP more districts.
- A significant number of Department of Education's powers reassigned to other federal departments as part of administration efforts.
- Large-scale operations extend to North Carolina capital, with representatives confirming ongoing activities.
