Senate Passes Legislation to Release Jeffrey Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday gave swift approval to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by Donald Trump and his Republican allies. The White House relented after months of trying to block the cross-party initiative involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.
Expedited Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which requires approval from each senator but avoids a recorded vote, expediting the process. Earlier that day, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
The public have endured sufficient delay. The survivors have suffered long enough,” Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech on Tuesday, before urging the chamber to approve it without opposition. “Let the truth come out. Ensure full disclosure.”
Next Steps
The bill next goes to the president for his signature. He signaled on the previous day that he would sign the measure.
Even though Trump has for months rejected the outcry over the official management of the scandal as a “political stunt”, he expressed his backing for the measure over the past few days, and stated he would give his assent if it is presented to him.
Response
Opposition lawmakers, along with victims and their representatives who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was approved. Lone dissent came from Clay Higgins, who expressed concern he worried the measure would reveal identifying details of witnesses, persons of interest and others caught up in the investigation.
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