The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his approval. The president stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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