The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. He indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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