The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of official records associated with the deceased 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 an extended period of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose personal information of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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