The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his endorsement. The president indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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