The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal specific data of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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