The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. The president indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public identifying details of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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