The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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