Trump image within Epstein files reinstated by US justice department after backlash

Items in the Epstein files, including a photo of Donald Trump, were removed from the website by the justice department due to concerns raised by victims, the deputy attorney general said Sunday.

Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said Trump’s image was later reinstated after review.

Mr Blanche rejected criticism that the removal involved the US president and said the photo featuring him also showed unredacted images of women.

At least 13 of the thousands of files published on Friday related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had disappeared from the website without explanation on Saturday.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee questioned the removal of the images. In social media posts, they asked Attorney General Pam Bondi: “What else is being covered up?”

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a post on X on Sunday that Trump’s image had been flagged by the Southern District of New York “for potential additional action to protect victims.”

It added that the image had been temporarily removed “out of an abundance of caution” pending further review.

“Upon review, it was determined that there was no evidence that the photograph depicted any Epstein victims, and the photograph was republished without any changes or corrections,” the Justice Department said.

This image was restored early Sunday and made available via a link to the website. The other files had not returned to the site as of that evening.

Blanche called the suggestion that the photo was removed because of Trump “ridiculous.” “This has nothing to do with President Trump,” he told NBC News.

“Dozens of photos of President Trump showing himself with Mr. Epstein have already been made public.”

He added: “So the absurdity of us taking down one photo, one photo, just because President Trump was there is laughable.”

Blanche cited a New York judge “ordering us to listen to any victims or victims’ rights groups if they have concerns” as the reason for removing some previously released files.

“There were a number of photos that were removed after they were posted on Friday,” he said.

Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding Epstein and has not been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims. There is no claim that these images indicate any inaccuracy.

The Justice Department was already under fire for not releasing all the files by Friday, as required by law.

Justice Department documents containing photos, videos and investigative materials linked to Epstein were highly anticipated after Congress passed a law mandating their full release by Friday.

Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who spearheaded the release of the files, said he was disappointed in the Trump administration’s response and that his focus was on getting justice for the victims.

The attorney general said he was preparing defamation charges against Pam Bondi.

“They’re disregarding the spirit and the letter of the law,” he told CBS News on Sunday. “The attitude they are taking is very disturbing. I will not be satisfied until the survivors are satisfied.”

The image contained in the removed files shows a desk in Epstein’s home, with an open drawer full of other photographs. One of those photos shows the president with Epstein, First Lady Melania Trump, and Epstein’s convicted associate Ghislane Maxwell. Framed photographs can also be seen on the table.

Ten of the missing files contain images depicting what appears to be the same room: a small massage parlor with a ceiling painted with clouds and brown patterned wallpaper adorned with multiple images of nudes. Some look like photographs, some are works of art.

The faces of most of the women depicted on the wall have been corrected. However, one face is redacted in one file but is clearly visible in the other three. A painted image of the same person appears in all of the files, while another face remains unredacted.

On Saturday, House Oversight Committee Democrats questioned the removal of the files, posting Trump’s missing photo on social media and asking Attorney General Pam Bondi if the claim that the photo had been removed was true.

“What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American people,” the committee wrote.

The removal of the files comes at a time when suspicions are growing about the US government and the so-called Epstein files.

The documents released Friday came to light as a result of Congressional action forcing the Justice Department to release them.

The Justice Department said it would comply with a congressional request to release the documents under certain conditions.

It redacted personal information about Epstein’s victims, material depicting child sexual abuse, material depicting physical abuse, any records that would “compromise an active federal investigation,” or any classified documents that must remain secret to protect “national defense or foreign policy.”

However, most of the published documents have been heavily redacted.

There was limited new information about Epstein’s crimes, and things like internal Justice Department memos regarding charging decisions were not included in the released files.

Additional reporting by Alison Benjamin and Benedict Garman.

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