The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would reveal personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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