The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have waited patiently,” the Senate Democratic leader said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to the president for his approval. Trump signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their supporters who were present in a public section, applauded after the bill was enacted. The only opposition came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would make public identifying details of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
Other News Updates
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