The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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