The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records associated with the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Approval in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a formal roll call vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a 427-1 tally.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next goes to Donald Trump for his signature. He signaled on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he voiced approval for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it comes to him.
Reaction
The Democratic party, along with victims and their representatives who were present in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who stated he worried the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.
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