The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost 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 months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next heads to the president for his endorsement. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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