The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
Citizens have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next goes to Trump for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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