The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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