The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to the president for his approval. He signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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