Why didn’t Biden release the Epstein files? If Trump was in the files, then Democrats would have released them already

By Simon James

This argument appears constantly in online discussions about the Epstein files. It sounds compelling at first glance, but once you consider what we know about the investigations, the political incentives, and the priorities of Democratic leadership, a clearer explanation emerges.

First, even though Epstein was deceased by the time Biden was in office, the Maxwell investigation remained active for most of Biden’s presidency. The simplest reason for withholding the files is that the FBI wanted to preserve the integrity of that case, and doing so required confidentiality.

Beyond that, Biden was never a transparency-focused candidate, nor did he present himself as one. At the time, the public didn’t even realize it was possible—or realistic—to release such potentially explosive information. The full JFK files still hadn’t been disclosed. Google Trends shows almost no interest in “release the Epstein files” until mid-2025. Without public pressure, lawmakers had no incentive to take action.

More broadly, Biden is an establishment figure whose campaign relied heavily on billionaires and Super PACs. He was accountable to those donors, many of whom could have ties to Epstein. Establishment politics in the U.S. has long been shaped by massive corporate donations framed as “free speech,” particularly after Citizens United. Candidates backed by this system—Democrats and Republicans alike—are expected to protect the interests that fund them.

With that in mind, the next questions become: Why would establishment Democrats support releasing the files now? And why would Trump?

Trump campaigned on transparency and used the Epstein files to energize his base. He may not prioritize keeping his promises, but he leverages them when they benefit him politically. After taking office, however, the promise became a burden. Like Biden, Trump is now tied to donors, PACs, and power brokers with potential connections to Epstein. Exposing them would undermine his own coalition.

Epstein’s long-documented relationships with Israeli intelligence officials further complicate the situation. Many journalists believe he operated as an asset serving Israeli security interests. While there is no conclusive proof of a blackmail ring, it remains plausible. Unredacted disclosure could reveal sensitive details about the U.S.–Israel relationship. And with many of Trump’s major donors being strongly pro-Israel, the conflict of interest is obvious. Regardless of Trump’s personal involvement with the trafficking network, releasing the files is not in his best interest.

The push for transparency is coming instead from non-establishment lawmakers—Massie and Khanna—who ran grassroots campaigns and are not beholden to billionaires or foreign interests. They have been driving the effort and applying consistent pressure on Trump.

Establishment Democrats’ sudden support is a calculated move. It signals confidence, exploits GOP fractures, and shifts potential fallout onto Republicans, who currently control all branches of government. The Epstein files are a political grenade. Under Biden, Republicans likely would have been the ones demanding the release.

Now, on November 18, 2025, the bill is finally advancing. Once Rep. Adelita Grijalva was sworn in, the measure had enough support to pass. With midterms approaching, many Republicans switched their positions to avoid being seen as obstructing transparency. They realized they could not stop the bill and opted to align with the inevitable.

The remaining question is how the establishment will respond next. Will there be an “investigation” to justify withholding data? Will names be redacted? Will the courts intervene? I’m not optimistic we’ll get the full truth. But if anything is clear, it’s that the country needs more grassroots candidates—people like Massie, Khanna, and, in Maine’s upcoming Senate race, Platner.