The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will require the publication of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. The president stated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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