The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his endorsement. He indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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