The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his endorsement. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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