The Senate on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. The president stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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