The Senate on Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will force the release of official records associated with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. Trump's team gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Those affected have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Future Action
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. He signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Although the president has for months dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling of the Epstein case as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Response
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would disclose specific data of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
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