The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will require the publication of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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