The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and announced 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 House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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