The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-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 block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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