Senate Approves Measure to Release Jeffrey Epstein Documents

The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of investigative files concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.

Expedited Passage in Congress

Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.

The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”

Presidential Signature

The measure next goes to the president for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.

Although Trump has for months dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.

Support and Opposition

Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.

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