A senior U.S. Department of Justice official, Leo Terrel, has ignited a political firestorm by suggesting that former First Lady Jill Biden should face elder abuse charges for allegedly concealing the severity of her husband Joe Biden’s health condition. The accusations come in the wake of reports that the former president has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
DOJ Official raises alarm over alleged concealment
Leo Terrell, senior counselor to the assistant attorney general for civil rights, made the explosive claim on social media platform X, alleging that Jill Biden was aware of her husband’s declining health but pushed for his continued involvement in public life and politics.
“Elder Abuse! Criminal Charges??” Terrell wrote on X, responding to a post that accused the former First Lady of knowingly allowing Joe Biden to run for president despite his reported health struggles. While the remarks gained traction online, there has been no confirmation that the Department of Justice is investigating or considering criminal charges against Jill Biden.
Conflicting reports on Biden’s health
The controversy erupted following the disclosure of Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, which revealed that the former president is battling an advanced stage of prostate cancer. The official statement described it as a severe and aggressive form that has metastasised to his bones. However, this has contradicted earlier medical reports that described only two small nodules. The conflicting accounts have fueled speculation about whether the severity of the illness was intentionally downplayed or overlooked.
Trump and allies call out alleged cover-up
USPresident Donald Trump and his allies have seized on the news, accusing the Bidens of orchestrating a cover-up. In public remarks, Trump questioned whether all medical information was properly disclosed and hinted at possible misconduct. “Somebody is not telling the facts,” Trump stated, while adding, “Walter Reed has some of the best doctors I’ve ever seen… I don’t know if they were even involved.” His son, Donald Trump Jr., has also echoed the allegations, calling for further investigation into the timeline and transparency of Biden’s diagnosis.
Did Jill Biden know?
Jill Biden has not publicly addressed the allegations or her husband’s diagnosis. In contrast, Joe Biden issued a brief statement on social media accompanied by a photo of himself and Jill, thanking supporters and asking for privacy. Medical experts remain divided on whether the cancer could have remained undetected. While some oncologists have said the disease may have developed over the past 5–10 years, others point out that prostate cancer can often progress silently, complicating any effort to determine when it began. Amid the growing speculation, Jill Biden recently took on a new leadership role as chair of the Women’s Health Network at the Milken Institute. The former First Lady has continued to make public appearances since leaving the White House, though she has yet to comment on the swirling controversy.