The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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