The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will force the release of official records concerning the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team changed course after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a case that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Approval in Congress
The Senate acted by unanimous consent, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Earlier that day, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. The survivors have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat said in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Future Action
This legislation next goes to Trump for his signature. He signaled on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the official management of the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it reaches his desk.
Reaction
Democrats, along with those affected and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, cheered after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he feared the measure would reveal specific data of people, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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