The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to the president for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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