The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a public section, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who stated he worried the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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