The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a overwhelming vote in the lower house and a change of position by the president and his GOP allies. The administration gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a case that has dogged the president since his return to the White House.
Unanimous Passage in Both Chambers
Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House voted decisively for the bill on a massive majority.
“The American people have endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.”
Future Action
The measure next will be sent to the president for his approval. The president indicated on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though the president has for an extended period downplayed the controversy over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the weekend, and said he would approve it if it comes to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he feared the measure would reveal identifying details of people, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
Other News Updates
- Trump receives backlash for referring to a journalist as ‘piggy’ during a clash onboard Air Force One.
- Judge rejects ‘racially gerrymandered’ maps in Texas that allocated GOP more districts.
- Many of US education agency’s authorities moved to other federal departments as part of White House efforts.
- Mass federal immigration sweeps expand to North Carolina capital, with representatives noting ongoing activities.
