The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. He indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Response
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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