Senate Passes Bill to Make Public Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months downplayed the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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