Joe Biden finally addressed the sexual assault allegation against him publicly today. He appeared within the friendly confines of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, though he was asked a few tough questions, to make his denial.

But it wasn’t just the denial that was newsworthy. We all knew that was coming. What really caught my ear was his comments on the sealed records which currently reside at the University of Delaware. When asked about why he won’t just make them public or, at the very least, agree to a search for Reade’s name, this was his response.

Full exchange on Biden saying he won't release his Senate records at the Univ. of Delaware —

"The idea that they would be made public while I was running for public office, they could be taken out of context … they could be fodder." pic.twitter.com/tUOGBBttOd

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) May 1, 2020

As my colleague Nick Arama wrote yesterday, Biden found those records concerning enough that he sent operatives to search them in March, with the indication there being that they could already be compromised. But for now, Biden is simply refusing to release anything from them, including doing any kind of search pertaining to the Reade allegation.

When pushed on that specific matter, Biden became speechless.

Mika Brzezinski presses Joe Biden on opening up his Senate records at the University of Delaware:

"Are you certain there was nothing about Tara Reade in those records?"

"I am absolutely certain."

"If so, why not approve a search of her name in those records?" pic.twitter.com/f2pCXiWCyd

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 1, 2020

This answer by Biden is going to pour gasoline on the suspicions surrounding those records. Now, it’s not just about the sexual assault claim anymore. His answer about providing “fodder” and his concerns that they could be used against him open up speculatory paths for many other things he could be hiding. Biden’s tenure in public office has been marked by more failures and bad decisions than one can count. I suspect on foreign policy alone that these records contain many examples of his awful judgment.

I mean if Joe Biden doesn't want his UDel records opened because stuff in there "could be used as fodder," I wonder what else is in there besides a possible sexual harrassment complaint 🧐

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 1, 2020

Regardless, someone running for public office should probably not be arguing that the records of his public service should be hidden. That seems an almost insane contention.

“The things I did while in elected office should not be made public while I am seeking a higher public office” is not an argument that makes any sense. https://t.co/bJRATprGH7

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) May 1, 2020

What’s Joe hiding? And will the media have any interest after spending years fretting about Trump’s tax returns? The answer to the latter question is likely no. In fact, we’ve already got some “journalists” saying the quiet part out loud. Namely, that they view these records like Hillary’s emails and do not want to see them investigated.

Mark my words: "what's in the records at Delaware" is going to be the new "what's in the emails?"

Regardless of whether there's a "there" there, we live in a climate where suspicion can be easily weaponized. See: Clinton, Hillary.

— Charlotte Alter (@CharlotteAlter) May 1, 2020

So much for the picture of the dogged reporter searching down the truth with an unstoppable curiosity. Instead, the media are going to try to memory-hole all of this. Biden gave the interview, he made his denials, and he says there’s nothing there. That will be the line going forward.

But I suspect more is going to come out. Biden isn’t out of the woods yet. Not by a long shot.