The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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