The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Trump for his signature. He indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would reveal identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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