The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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