The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. He indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the measure over the weekend, and said he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of people, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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