The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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