The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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