The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his endorsement. He signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
Other Headlines
- The president is under fire for calling a correspondent as ‘piggy’ during a confrontation aboard Air Force One.
- Federal judge blocks ‘racially gerrymandered’ maps in the state of Texas that gave Republicans extra districts.
- Many of US education agency’s powers moved to other federal departments as part of administration efforts.
- Large-scale operations extend to North Carolina capital, with authorities confirming ongoing activities.
