The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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