The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Uncover the facts. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
The bill next will be sent to Trump for his endorsement. The president signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although the president has for an extended period dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the House bill over the past few days, and announced he would approve it if it is presented to him.
Reaction
Opposition lawmakers, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were seated in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would disclose identifying details of witnesses, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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