The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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