Fact check: Why didn’t the Biden administration release the Epstein files?

1. Summary of the results

The original statement questions why the Biden administration did not release the Epstein files. However, according to the analysis from ^[1], the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform released 33,295 pages of Epstein-related records, suggesting that the Biden administration is not withholding the files but rather the Department of Justice is providing them to Congress ^[1]. Additionally, ^[2] reports that the Justice Department has turned over 33,000 pages of documents related to the Epstein case, but Democrats have called for the release of the remaining documents ^[2]. The analysis from ^[3] indicates that the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted an exhaustive review of investigative holdings relating to Jeffrey Epstein and found no basis to revisit the disclosure of certain materials, and will not permit the release of child pornography, suggesting that the Biden administration may not have released the files due to the sensitive nature of the content ^[3]. The key point is that the Biden administration is not the sole entity responsible for releasing the Epstein files, as the Department of Justice and Congress are also involved in the process ^{[1] [2]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some analyses suggest that Democratic lawmakers did push for the release of Epstein records during the Trump administration, but their efforts were met with resistance, and after Biden took office, they appeared to dial back their public calls for the release of the Epstein files ^[4]. The analysis from ^[5] mentions that FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the FBI has released all files it is legally allowed to produce, but Democrats disputed this claim ^[5]. The context of the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and the release of some documents is crucial in understanding why the Biden administration did or did not release the files ^[6]. Furthermore, the analysis from ^[7] indicates that Democratic lawmakers began seeking records about Epstein after the Miami Herald's 2018 investigation, and some Democrats called for a plea deal investigation in 2019, but there is no clear evidence that the Biden administration actively worked to release the Epstein files ^[7]. Alternative viewpoints include the possibility that the Biden administration may not have released the files due to the sensitive nature of the content, as suggested by the analysis from ^{[3] [3]}. The following are some key points to consider:

• The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted an exhaustive review of investigative holdings relating to Jeffrey Epstein ^[3]
• The Justice Department has turned over 33,000 pages of documents related to the Epstein case ^[2]
• Democratic lawmakers did push for the release of Epstein records during the Trump administration ^[4]
• The Biden administration may not have released the files due to the sensitive nature of the content ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement implies that the Biden administration is solely responsible for releasing the Epstein files, which may be misleading ^{[1] [2]}. The analysis from ^[5] suggests that FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the FBI has released all files it is legally allowed to produce, but Democrats disputed this claim, which may indicate a partisan bias in the original statement ^[5]. Additionally, the analysis from ^[4] suggests that Democrats did push for the release of Epstein records during the Trump administration, but their efforts were met with resistance, which may indicate a lack of context in the original statement ^[4]. The Biden administration, Congress, and the Department of Justice all play a role in the release of the Epstein files, and it is inaccurate to imply that the Biden administration is solely responsible ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The following parties may benefit from the original statement:

• Those who oppose the Biden administration and seek to criticize its handling of the Epstein case ^{[1] [5] [4]}
• Those who seek to downplay the role of Congress and the Department of Justice in the release of the Epstein files ^{[1] [2]}
• Those who seek to emphasize the sensitive nature of the content as a reason for not releasing the files ^[3]