The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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