The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. Trump's team relented after months of trying to block the joint action involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
The public have been patient long enough. The survivors have waited long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a floor speech on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
The bill next goes to the president for his approval. The president stated on Monday that he would approve the bill.
Although Trump has for an extended period rejected the uproar over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. Lone dissent came from a GOP representative, who stated he was concerned the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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