The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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