SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith criticized Democrats on Wednesday for demanding the release of Jeffrey Epstein–related files only after President Donald Trump returned to office, despite the documents being available during former President Joe Biden’s administration. Smith made the remarks on his show, “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.”

As The Independent Journal Review reported, a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing the files reached the necessary threshold on Wednesday after Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona was sworn in and added her signature. Smith raised questions about why Democrats reversed course on the matter.

“Ladies and gentlemen, keep in mind that the Epstein files were in existence and free to have been open during the Biden administration! You were there for four years!” Smith said.

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“How come you didn’t open it as a Democratic party then!? What am I missing!? I’m not saying I know, it’s a legitimate question! Maybe I don’t remember the answer. Maybe my extraordinary producers should be able to help me during the commercial break.”

Smith continued pressing the issue, noting that the same files now at the center of debate could have been released earlier.

“But from my understanding, the same files that were open or being open now, with the 220 pages of documents or whatever it is, with various emails, that could have been done when Biden was in office!” he said.

“Well, why didn’t you do it if it’s so important now!? What were the Democrats doing at that particular moment in time? See, this is the kind of stuff that smells.”

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Smith suggested that if damaging information about President Trump had been contained in the files, Democrats would have made it public during the Biden administration. “That’s just my thinking from a logical perspective,” he said. “But what do I know!?”

Later in the show, Smith said producers provided him with a possible reason for the lack of transparency during Biden’s tenure. He read an explanation citing legal restrictions.

“The Epstein files and the Biden DOJ — there may be more legal nuance, but the general thing was the DOJ didn’t release the full Epstein files primarily because federal law sharply restricts disclosure of grand jury materials,” Smith said.

“Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6E, grand jury evidence is kept secret to protect witnesses, informants, victims, and the integrity of ongoing or past investigations. And the Justice Department cannot unilaterally release this material either.”

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also questioned why the Biden administration did not disclose the files earlier.

Appearing on “Morning Joe” Thursday, Fetterman said, “[O]ne of my questions is like … we sat on those for four years, too. So, I mean, I don’t really understand, you know, either. I mean, there are a lot of questions.”

On September 2, the House Oversight Committee published thousands of subpoenaed records tied to Epstein that had been obtained during President Trump’s prior term.