Congress Passes Bill to Make Public Jeffrey Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after months of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Congress
Senators proceeded by unanimous consent, 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 427-1 tally.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to pass it unanimously. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”
Next Steps
The measure next heads to Trump for his signature. He stated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Although Trump has for months downplayed the controversy over the official management of the scandal as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with victims and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would disclose specific data of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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