The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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