The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president stated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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