The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a case that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for months dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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