The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The measure next goes to the president for his approval. He signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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