FBI Director Kash Patel did not state that classified Jeffrey Epstein files name President Joe Biden or former President Barack Obama [1].
This correction addresses viral misinformation stemming from a YouTube video and a fabricated letter. The spread of these claims highlights the ongoing volatility surrounding the release of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and the potential for political weaponization of classified data.
The claims emerged from a video published by the Times of India, which suggested Patel said the files name Biden and Obama and that he would not lie to Americans [1]. However, a fact-check found no record of Patel making such a statement [1].
Investigators traced the origin of the misinformation to a letter allegedly written by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Patel, dated Feb. 27, 2025 [1]. The Yahoo News Fact-Check team said the letter is fabricated and dated in the future relative to when the events it describes allegedly occurred [1].
During a U.S. Senate hearing in Washington, D.C., in September 2024, senators questioned Patel about the handling of the Epstein investigation and whether the files implicated senior political figures [1]. While the hearing focused on the transparency of the investigation, there is no evidence from that testimony supporting the claims regarding Biden or Obama [1].
Patel has addressed the presence of other political figures in the documents. "I have personally reviewed a large number of the classified documents and have not seen President Trump's name in them," Patel said [1].
Despite the lack of evidence, the narrative continues to circulate in digital spaces. The discrepancy between the YouTube reporting and the verified record indicates a failure in source verification regarding the alleged February 2025 correspondence [1].
“"I have personally reviewed a large number of the classified documents and have not seen President Trump's name in them."”
The circulation of fabricated documents and misleading video summaries demonstrates how high-profile investigations can be manipulated to create false political narratives. By attributing specific claims to a high-ranking official like the FBI Director, these narratives gain a veneer of authority that can mislead the public even after a formal correction is issued.
