The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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