The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal specific data of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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