The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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