Senate Greenlights Bill to Make Public Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of case documents concerning the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the US House of Representatives and a change of position by the president and his Republican allies. The administration changed course after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Approval in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which needs acceptance from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
Citizens have been patient long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat declared in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The measure next goes to Trump for his signature. Trump stated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Though Trump has for months dismissed the controversy over the government’s handling 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 is presented to him.
Response
Democrats, along with victims and their supporters who were seated in a public section, broke into applause after the bill was passed. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who stated he feared the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others involved in the investigation.
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