The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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