Several files posted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of its public release of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein were removed shortly after going live — including a file that contained an image of President Donald Trump.
The DOJ published thousands of files on Friday, Dec. 19, roughly a month after Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which directs the department to make records from the Epstein investigations publicly available and searchable.
By Saturday, at least 16 of those files had been taken down from the DOJ’s webpage, the Associated Press reported. The removed items included a photograph that featured Trump, 79.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the removals during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, saying the material was pulled to protect victims and to comply with court-related guidance.
“There were a number of photographs that were pulled down after being released on Friday,” Blanche said, adding that a judge in New York has instructed the department to consider input from victims or victims’ rights groups if they raise concerns about what is being posted.
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Blanche said the department removed content after hearing concerns about images that appeared to include women. He said the DOJ would take the material down, make any necessary edits — including redacting faces or other identifying details — and then repost it.
“We are, in every way, shape and form, complying with the statute,” he said, and added that Trump has “nothing” to hide in relation to the Epstein files.
Blanche also said viewers should not be surprised if what is released matches what the law requires, noting that additional material could be posted as the department continues its review.
When host Kristen Welker asked Blanche to confirm whether the removals were done “at the direction of a judge,” and referenced a pulled image that appeared to show an open desk drawer containing a photo of Trump, Blanche said the issue was not the president. He claimed the concern centered on women visible in the image and said it was removed after those concerns were raised.
Blanche also addressed why the full release has not been completed, saying the law requires the DOJ to protect victims and that the department is still reviewing documents as part of that process.
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The Dec. 19 release included five datasets totaling roughly 3,900 files. The materials ranged widely — from documents and photographs to items such as a scanned copy of Massage for Dummies, a fully redacted 119-page grand jury filing, and a police report in which a young woman alleged Epstein threatened to burn down her house.
Blanche has also said the DOJ could not meet the Act’s timeline for releasing everything in full. In a post on X, he said the department needed more time to complete redactions across hundreds of thousands of pages tied to the Epstein investigation, and that additional responsive materials would be produced as review continues, consistent with the law and protections for victims.
The released files also include images of several other public figures, including Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, and Michael Jackson.
Epstein died in August 2019 at age 66. He was found hanging in a cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City while awaiting trial on federal conspiracy and *** trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
