The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
This legislation next goes to the president for his approval. He signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Even though Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with those affected and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who said he worried the measure would make public personal information of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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