Senate Approves Measure to Make Public Jeffrey Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next goes to the president for his signature. He signaled on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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