The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months downplayed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, cheered after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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