The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will require the publication of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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