The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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