The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to the president for his endorsement. The president stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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