The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for months downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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