The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. He indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose personal information of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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