The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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