The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to Donald Trump for his endorsement. The president signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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