Democrats say photo of Trump removed from Justice Department Epstein files

Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee are accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of removing several files from a massive public release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. The removed material reportedly includes a file containing a photograph of former President Donald Trump, raising questions about the completeness of the disclosure.

Allegations of Selective Removal

In a post on the social media platform X, the committee's Democrats highlighted the removal, stating, "This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release." They called on Attorney General Pamela Bondi to provide "transparency for the American public." Reports from NPR indicate other removed files included images of various artworks, some featuring nudity.

Background of the Document Release

The controversy follows the Justice Department's release of thousands of records on Friday concerning the investigation into late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. This action was compelled by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation that gave the department a 30-day deadline to release documents related to the probe. The release occurred on the final day allowed by the law.

Calls for Accountability and Full Disclosure

The timing and selective nature of the file removals have drawn criticism and fueled demands for a full accounting of what was published and subsequently taken down. The incident underscores the intense public and political scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case and the interactions of powerful figures with the convicted sex offender. The Justice Department has not yet issued a public statement explaining the reasons for removing the specific files from its website.