The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to the president for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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