The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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