The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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