The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of official records concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, expediting the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to the president for his approval. He stated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for an extended period rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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