The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will require the publication of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to block the bipartisan effort involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, expediting the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Donald Trump for his endorsement. He signaled on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Though 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 legislation over the weekend, and stated he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their advocates who were present in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who said he was concerned the measure would make public identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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