The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of official records associated with the late 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 delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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