The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of official records related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Trump for his signature. Trump stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for months dismissed the uproar over the authorities' approach of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would disclose specific data of people, potential suspects and others caught up in the investigation.
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