The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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