The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of individuals involved, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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