Congress Passes Measure to Disclose Epstein Records
The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a reversal by the president and his Republican allies. The administration relented after an extended period of trying to forestall the joint action involving a controversy that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, speeding up the process. Earlier that day, the House voted decisively for the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have been patient long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer stated in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to pass it unanimously. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”
Next Steps
This legislation next heads to Donald Trump for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would endorse the legislation.
Though Trump has for an extended period dismissed the outcry over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the legislation over the past few days, and stated he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The sole “no” vote came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he feared the measure would make public identifying details of people, persons of interest and others involved in the investigation.
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