The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his endorsement. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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