The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, 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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