The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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