Did Joe Biden ever promise to release names connected to Jeffrey Epstein and later rescind it?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
There is no credible record in the reporting provided that Joe Biden personally promised to publish a list of names connected to Jeffrey Epstein and then rescinded that pledge; the Biden Justice Department did declassify and release some Epstein-related material while also citing routine legal and privacy exemptions to withhold other records connected to ongoing investigations and victim privacy [1] [2]. Political actors on both sides have seized on those choices — Republicans as evidence of Democratic inaction, Democrats as overdue transparency — but the available sources locate the decisions in DOJ legal practice rather than a withdrawn presidential promise [3] [4].
1. What actually happened under the Biden DOJ: partial releases and legal withholdings
The Biden Justice Department did release what it described as an initial tranche or “first phase” of declassified Epstein files during the administration, while also telling courts that other materials would be withheld under FOIA exemptions to protect ongoing investigations and victim privacy [1] [2]. Newsweek reported the DOJ and FBI collectively held vast volumes of evidence and that the administration released material in phases rather than a blanket dumping of every page [1], and legal analysis noted the Biden DOJ explicitly relied on Exemption 7(A) — the same carve-out later invoked under new statutory pressure — to justify non‑disclosure when prosecutions or inquiries were active [2].
2. The political claims: Republicans say Biden “had four years” to act; critics say not enough was released
Republican leaders and some conservative media have repeatedly argued that Democrats, including the Biden administration, had full access to Epstein-related files for years and failed to press for public disclosure, framing that contrast as political opportunism now that Congress and a later administration were forcing releases [3] [5]. Fox News and other outlets quoted GOP officials arguing Democrats had opportunities during the four years of the Biden presidency to push the records out but did not, and House and Senate rhetoric later recast earlier inaction as hypocritical [3] [5].
3. The conspiracy and counterclaims: allegations of destruction or “made up” files lack evidence
Some figures have advanced far stronger assertions — that records were “made up” by prior officials or even “destroyed” by the Biden administration — but fact-checking and reporting find no evidentiary basis for those claims in the materials reviewed: PolitiFact debunked assertions that Obama or Biden “made up” Epstein files [4], and GOP accusations about deliberate destruction were acknowledged as lacking supporting proof even by the accusers themselves [6]. Reporting emphasizes that active investigations, sealed court orders, and victim privacy frequently explain why comprehensive public releases have not occurred [2] [1].
4. Conclusion: no documented Biden promise-and-rescind; dispute is over DOJ disclosure choices
Reviewing the reporting shows a clear distinction between two claims: (A) that the Biden administration/DOJ chose not to release large swaths of material for legal reasons, which is supported by reporting [2] [1], and (B) that Joe Biden personally promised to release a list of names and later rescinded such a promise, for which the provided sources offer no documentation. Media outlets and congressional actors have argued about motive and timing [3] [5], and some partisan narratives have overstated or mischaracterized the record; however, the immediate and traceable public record ties non‑release to DOJ legal rationale rather than a reversed presidential pledge [2] [1]. The limits of this analysis are the limits of the cited reporting: if a private statement by President Biden promising release exists, it is not reflected in these sources.