The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House gave in 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.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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