Senate Passes Measure to Release Jeffrey Epstein Records

The upper chamber of Congress on Tuesday passed without delay to legislation that will force the release of official records related to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a near-unanimous vote in the lower house and a change of position by Donald Trump and his GOP allies. The administration relented after months of trying to delay the joint action involving a scandal that has followed the president since his comeback to the White House.

Swift Approval in Both Chambers

Senators proceeded by consensus, which needs acceptance from each senator but avoids a individual voting process, accelerating the process. Hours earlier, the House passed by a huge margin the bill on a massive majority.

Citizens have waited long enough. The survivors have suffered long enough,” the Senate Democratic leader stated in a address to the chamber on Tuesday, before requesting the chamber to adopt it by consent. “Let the truth come out. Allow openness to prevail.”

Next Steps

This legislation next will be sent to Trump for his signature. He indicated on the previous day that he would approve the bill.

Although Trump has for months rejected the uproar over the authorities' approach of the scandal as a “false narrative”, he signalled his support for the House bill over the past few days, and said he would sign the measure if it is presented to him.

Response

Democrats, along with survivors of Epstein and their supporters who were watching from a House gallery, applauded after the bill was passed. The sole “no” vote came from Clay Higgins, who said he worried the measure would make public specific data of witnesses, those under scrutiny and others implicated in the investigation.