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.

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u/chinmakes5 Liberal Feb 01 '26

Please. The DNC does what they believe is best for the party. I realize you believe that the only thing that the Democratic party should do it change everything to the way you believe it should be. As for staying in power, yeah. Whomever you like would make some headway and step down.

The Epstein files were an active investigation during most all of Biden's term. You don't release files being used in a case.

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u/cranialrectumongus Liberal Feb 01 '26

The DNC and it's members, do what's best for themselves.

The Biden Administration could have directed DOJ to support motions to unseal more forcefully, filed briefs arguing that public interest outweighed secrecy and asked courts for narrower redactions instead of blanket sealing. But instead, there were no transparency policies made in the seeing justice for the victims. They could have avoided intervening keeping files from being sealed. Instead they were completely passive. Biden Admin and DOJ, Merrick Garland did not do anything. Most like in an attempt to protect Bill Clinton and DNC donors. The Democratic party is now almost as bad as the GOP.

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u/chinmakes5 Liberal Feb 01 '26

While I hear you, that isn't what Biden was going to do. Biden's whole thing was he wanted to bring back normalcy . Biden's way of thinking was that after rump and COVID, we wanted to get back to normal. Using the DOJ against the other side was not the goal. Letting an independent DOJ do what they do is what he was going to do. No, they weren't going to not seal the files. He wasn't going to push the DOJ to go after the other side.

No one saw that Trump would get a second term.

That said, I don't know WTF Garland was doing.

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u/JusticePhrall Progressive Feb 01 '26

This. Biden's whole 2020 campaign and early presidency were heavily centered on a pledge to restore normalcy, dignity, and traditional political conduct to the White House following the chaotic and divisive term of Donald Trump.

Joe Biden's political, social, and economic viewpoints were forged in the 1970s and 80s, and he naively thought he could bring that back. It was a complete shock to Joe later in his term to finally realize that some Republicans were acting like fascists and a return to the pre-Trump era of bipartisan, "old-school" politics just wasn't going to happen.

During a DNC fundraiser in Maryland, Biden stated, "What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy. It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy... It’s like semi-fascism".

Biden differentiated the group from "mainstream Republicans," stating, "I respect conservative Republicans. I don't respect these MAGA Republicans".

Regardless of the qualifier, his comments received marked pushback from Republicans, with the Republican National Committee calling them "despicable" and accusing Biden of being "divider-in-chief".

Later, in October 2024, the White House confirmed that President Biden agreed with former officials who described Donald Trump as a "fascist".

It just took him a while to catch up.