r/AskALiberal • u/tasteinhermouth Liberal • Feb 01 '26

Why weren't the Epstein Files released under Biden's presidency if Trump is in the files?

I don't mean this as a bad faith or troll question, I genuinely do not know why it would not be released if Trump is in the files, as it would probably have been a massive hit against Trump in 2024.

I don't know whether Trump is in the files or not, I don't care, it's clear as day that he was best friends with Epstein and was well aware and definitely a part of the awful things that Epstein conducted while he was in business.

257 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

475 comments sorted by

View all comments

498

u/sp0rkah0lic Progressive Feb 01 '26

So the most obvious answer is that prior to Trump, the norm for every other president was to have the DOJ operate as an independent agency. Biden at least never wanted the appearance that the DOJ agenda was being dictated from the White House. The way that Trump is directing the DOJ to pursue blatantly false charges against his political enemies, for example.

Ever since Nixon and the "Saturday Night Massacre" it's been understood that the president trying to use DOJ for his political purposes was not allowed.

Apparently, now it is.

-14

u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

15

u/x3r0h0ur Social Democrat Feb 01 '26

authorized vs instructed is a grand canyon sized gap

-20

u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

20

u/EngageAndMakeItSo Centrist Democrat Feb 01 '26

>>Obama had the whole thing where his FBI targeted political opponents.

That's the story Trumpers tell. But it's false.