The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. He indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, cheered 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 individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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