The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following 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 an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next goes to Trump for his approval. The president stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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