The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” 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. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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