Senate Greenlights Measure to Release Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday quickly approved to a measure that will mandate the disclosure of case documents related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after months of trying to forestall the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has plagued the president since his comeback to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a floor speech on Tuesday, before requesting the Senate to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to Trump for his approval. He stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Although Trump has for an extended period downplayed the outcry over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their representatives who were present in a viewing area, applauded after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public specific data of people, potential suspects and others involved in the investigation.
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