The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to the president for his approval. He indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose personal information of individuals involved, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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