The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. The president indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, 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 GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose identifying details of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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