The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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