The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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