Senate Passes Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Records
The upper chamber of Congress on this Tuesday passed without delay to a measure that will require the publication of case documents related to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a almost unanimous vote in the US House of Representatives and a shift by the president and his GOP allies. The White House gave in after an extended period of trying to delay the bipartisan effort involving a scandal that has followed the president since his return to the White House.
Swift Passage in Congress
The Senate acted by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a formal roll call vote, speeding up the process. Hours earlier, the House overwhelmingly approved the bill on a near-unanimous vote.
“The American people have waited long enough. Those affected have suffered long enough,” the top Senate Democrat stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before urging the Senate to approve it without opposition. “Reveal the truth. Allow openness to prevail.”
Presidential Signature
The bill next heads to the president for his signature. The president indicated on Monday that he would sign the measure.
Though the president has for an extended period downplayed the uproar over the government’s handling of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the measure over the past few days, and announced he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.
Support and Opposition
The Democratic party, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, broke into applause after the bill was approved. The only opposition came from a GOP representative, who expressed concern he was concerned the measure would reveal personal information of witnesses, potential suspects and others implicated in the investigation.
Additional Stories
- The president faces criticism for referring to a journalist as ‘piggy’ during a disagreement onboard Air Force One.
- Judge rejects ‘discriminatory’ maps in Texas that awarded Republicans extra districts.
- A significant number of US education agency’s authorities transferred to different agencies as part of administration efforts.
- Raids extend to the state's capital, with representatives reporting ongoing activities.
