An image featuring former US President Donald Trump was among several documents that briefly vanished from the trove of Jeffrey Epstein files published by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) last week. The file was later restored after a review, with officials stating it was taken down "out of an abundance of caution."
The Disappearance and Restoration of Key Evidence
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee first highlighted the apparent removal of a specific image on Saturday, 20 December 2025. The document, identified as file number 468, showed a chest of drawers containing two printed photographs of Mr Trump.
One picture depicted Mr Trump standing with women in bathing suits, while the other was a partially obscured, previously known image of him with his wife Melania, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jeffrey Epstein. Sky News verified the file was missing from the online portal on Saturday, despite having downloaded it when the documents were first released on Friday, 19 December.
The DOJ reposted the image on Sunday, 21 December. In a statement, the department explained that the Southern District of New York had flagged it for potential further action to protect victims. After review, it was determined "there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph," and it was republished without alteration.
Widespread Scrutiny Over Heavy Redactions
The release of thousands of documents was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, with a legal deadline of 19 December. However, the publication has been mired in controversy due to extensive redactions. The DOJ maintains these are necessary to protect the identities of more than 1,200 victims and their families.
This justification has been questioned by victims, legal experts, and politicians. Ashley Rubright, a survivor abused by Epstein from the age of 15, told Sky News that completely redacted pages could not solely be for protecting victims' identities. Lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents several victims, reported that the DOJ's process was flawed, leaving some survivors' names and compromising images unredacted, causing further trauma.
In a letter to judges, US attorney Jay Clayton acknowledged the review was "vulnerable to machine error [or] instances of human error." He also noted the DOJ chose to redact faces of women in photos with Epstein even where not all were known victims, a methodology that has sparked online speculation.
Political Fallout and Calls for Full Transparency
The partial release has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Democrats have labelled it a "White House cover-up" and accused the administration of failing to comply with the law. Some Republicans have also expressed dissatisfaction.
While the Trump administration has touted its transparency, Congress forced the release through legislation. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer for Donald Trump, indicated more documents would follow in the coming weeks.
Mr Trump has not commented on the file release and has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's case. The files include photos of numerous public figures with Epstein, which do not imply wrongdoing. Gloria Allred called the current situation a "distraction," asserting it is not over until survivors get full truth and transparency.
