The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his endorsement. He indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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