The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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