The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after 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 scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. He indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would disclose personal information of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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