The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to the president for his endorsement. He stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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