The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Trump for his approval. Trump stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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