The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted 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 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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