The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to the president for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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