The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Trump for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for months rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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