The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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