The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration changed course 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.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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