The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the official management of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a viewing area, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal specific data of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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