The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The bill next heads to Trump for his endorsement. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he feared the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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