The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to the president for his approval. The president stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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