The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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