The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, 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 waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Donald Trump for his endorsement. Trump stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a viewing area, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who said he feared the measure would make public specific data of individuals involved, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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