The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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