The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
The public have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The measure next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would make public personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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