The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would reveal specific data of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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