DOJ Temporarily Removes and Reinstates Photo of Donald Trump from Epstein Files Amid Controversy
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) temporarily removed a photo of Donald Trump from the recently released Epstein files on its website due to concerns raised by victims. The image, which includes Donald Trump among several other figures such as Jeffrey Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell, was reinstated after a thorough review concluded that there is no evidence the victims depicted in the files appear in the photo.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche clarified that the removal was not related specifically to Trump, but rather because the photo also contains unredacted images of women. Taken down out of an abundance of caution, the image was flagged by the Southern District of New York for potential further action to safeguard victims. After evaluation, the DOJ restored the photo unchanged.
Alongside the removal of the Trump photo, at least 13 other files disappeared from the DOJ site by Saturday following the release of thousands of documents on the preceding Friday. The DOJ has not provided an explanation for this removal.
The release of the Epstein files was mandated by law, though many redactions were made to protect victims, ongoing investigations, or national security interests. The Trump photo itself shows a credenza in Epstein’s home with an open drawer of photos, the majority of whose faces have been redacted.
The handling of the Epstein file releases by the DOJ sparked criticism and intensified scrutiny after the Friday deadline. Representatives, including Thomas Massie, have called for inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi. House Oversight Committee Democrats publicly questioned the removal and shared the missing Trump photo on social media, demanding to know what else might be covered up by the agency.
