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The Senate on Tuesday passed without delay to a bill that will mandate the disclosure of official records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a almost unanimous vote in the House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. Trump's team relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has dogged the president since his comeback to the White House.

Swift Approval in Congress

Senators proceeded by general agreement, which requires approval from each senator but does not require a recorded vote, speeding up the process. Just before, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a 427-1 tally.

The public have waited long enough. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” Chuck Schumer declared in a Senate remarks on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Reveal the truth. Let transparency reign.”

Next Steps

This legislation next will be sent to the president for his endorsement. He indicated on the previous day that he would endorse the legislation.

Although the president has for an extended period rejected the controversy over the government’s handling of the investigation as a “Democrat hoax”, he voiced approval for the legislation over the weekend, and stated he would give his assent if it reaches his desk.

Reaction

Democrats, along with those affected and their supporters who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was enacted. Lone dissent came from a Louisiana Republican, who said he was concerned the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.

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