The Senate on this Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will require the publication of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
The public have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his approval. The president indicated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Even though the president has for an extended period dismissed the uproar over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were present in a public section, cheered after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would disclose personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others caught up in the investigation.
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