The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning 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. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to the president for his approval. He stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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