The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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