The Senate on this Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next goes to the president for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar 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 comes to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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