The Senate on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of official records concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his approval. The president signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would make public personal information of individuals involved, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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