The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to Trump for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the weekend, and announced he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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