The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback 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. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to the president for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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