The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a bill that will require the publication of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to Donald Trump for his approval. Trump signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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