The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to block 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 requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
Citizens have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to the president for his signature. The president stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the official management of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the measure over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would reveal personal information of people, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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