Congress Greenlights Legislation to Disclose Epstein Documents
The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of case documents associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to the president for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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