The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to legislation that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to forestall the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. Those affected have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were watching from a public section, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would disclose specific data of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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