The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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