The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of official records associated with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House changed course after an extended period of trying to block the joint action involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to the president for his signature. He stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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