Senate Approves Bill to Make Public Epstein Documents

The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of case documents concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.

Unanimous Passage in Congress

The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.

Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”

Future Action

The bill next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. The president signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.

Though Trump has for months rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.

Reaction

Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.

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