The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though the president has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal personal information of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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