The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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