Congress Passes Bill to Make Public Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to legislation that will force the release of official records concerning the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a shift by the president and his Republican allies. The White House relented after an extended period of trying to delay the cross-party initiative involving a controversy that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Both Chambers
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance 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 endured sufficient delay. Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have waited patiently,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before asking the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Uncover the facts. Ensure full disclosure.”
Presidential Signature
This legislation next will be sent to Donald Trump for his signature. Trump indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.
Though the president has for months downplayed the controversy over the official management of the investigation as a “political stunt”, he signalled his support for the legislation over the past few days, and said he would give his assent if it comes to him.
Reaction
Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their advocates who were seated in a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a Louisiana Republican, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal specific data of witnesses, persons of interest and others implicated in the investigation.
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