The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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