Biden’s Sharp Rebuke of Trump Revives Epstein Files Controversy

WASHINGTON — Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. delivered a pointed and unusually personal critique of President Donald J. Trump on Monday, declaring that “his reckoning has arrived” in reference to the ongoing release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. The remarks, made during an appearance at a Democratic Party event in Chicago, were laced with sarcasm and drew immediate attention for their tone and timing.

Mr. Biden’s comments came amid renewed public and congressional scrutiny of the Epstein case following the release of additional court records last week. Portions of the files remain heavily redacted, prompting accusations from some Democrats that the Department of Justice, now under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has delayed or obstructed full disclosure. Mr. Biden seized on the redactions to frame Mr. Trump as “paralyzed” by the prospect of greater transparency.

“He’s frozen, hiding behind black ink on pages that should have been public years ago,” Mr. Biden said, according to a transcript provided by his office. “The emperor’s reign is looking shakier by the day. His reckoning has arrived, and it’s not going to be pretty.” The former president’s delivery — calm, deliberate and punctuated by a faint smile — struck many observers as a deliberate contrast to Mr. Trump’s more combative style.

The remarks quickly reverberated across social media and cable news. Clips of the speech amassed millions of views within hours, with hashtags including #TrumpReckoning and #EpsteinFiles trending on X and other platforms. Supporters of Mr. Biden praised the remarks as a long-overdue calling-out of what they described as a pattern of evasion, while critics accused the former president of inflaming partisan tensions at a time when the country remains politically divided.

Behind the scenes, advisers to Mr. Trump have privately expressed frustration over the renewed focus on Epstein, according to two people familiar with internal discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity. They described the White House as working to shift attention to economic indicators and foreign policy achievements. One aide said the administration views the renewed scrutiny as an attempt by Democrats to distract from what they call a successful first year of Mr. Trump’s second term.

Congressional Democrats, led by Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, have intensified calls for unredacted versions of the Epstein files. In a letter to Attorney General Bondi on Tuesday, Mr. Raskin and several colleagues argued that continued redactions undermine public confidence in the rule of law. “The American people deserve to know the full truth, not a sanitized version designed to protect the powerful,” the letter stated.

Legal experts note that the redactions — which cite privacy concerns and ongoing investigations — are standard in such cases. Still, the persistence of speculation about Mr. Trump’s past association with Epstein, including documented flights on Epstein’s private plane in the 1990s, continues to fuel debate. Mr. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said he cut ties with Epstein more than 15 years before the financier’s 2019 death.

Mr. Biden’s Chicago appearance was originally scheduled to focus on voting rights and the upcoming midterm elections. The decision to insert the Epstein reference appeared spontaneous, though aides later described it as consistent with the former president’s long-standing criticism of Mr. Trump’s conduct. One Democratic strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said Mr. Biden’s team had been waiting for an appropriate moment to highlight what they see as a vulnerability for the current administration.

The episode underscores how the Epstein case, nearly six years after the financier’s death in federal custody, remains a potent political weapon. For Mr. Trump, the renewed attention arrives at a politically sensitive moment, as his administration navigates budget negotiations and early preparations for the 2026 midterms. For Mr. Biden, the remarks offered a chance to reassert his voice on the national stage while his party grapples with its own leadership questions.

Neither the White House nor Mr. Biden’s office responded to requests for further comment. As the redactions continue to be debated in Washington and online, the former president’s words have ensured that the Epstein files — and the questions they raise — will remain in the public eye for the foreseeable future.