The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to the president for his approval. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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