The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. The president stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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