In a significant reversal following a weekend of intense political and public backlash, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has restored several files to its public website, including a photograph featuring President Donald Trump alongside the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The image was part of a massive, congressionally mandated document dump released on Friday, December 19, 2025. However, the discovery that at least 16 files—including the Trump photograph—had been quietly removed less than 24 hours later sparked immediate accusations of a "White House cover-up."
The Controversy: Removal and Restoration
The specific file in question, identified as File 468, is a photograph of a desk or credenza within Epstein’s Manhattan mansion. Inside an open drawer, a framed picture is visible showing Donald Trump and Melania Trump posing with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Timeline of Events:
- Friday, Dec 19: The DOJ releases a heavily redacted cache of files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
- Saturday, Dec 20: Journalists and House Oversight Committee members notice that File 468 and 15 others (mostly depicting explicit artwork from Epstein's home) have vanished from the site.
- Sunday, Dec 21: Amid a "bipartisan uproar," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defends the move, stating the removals were requested by victim advocacy groups to ensure no survivors were inadvertently identified.
- Sunday Evening: The DOJ officially reposts the image, stating that a secondary review "determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted."
"Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review... it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction." — DOJ Statement via X
Political Fallout and Transparency Concerns
While the administration maintains that the removals were strictly procedural, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have been vocal in their criticism. They argue that the redactions in the overall release are too extensive and that the administration is "cherry-picking" files to protect the President while highlighting images of other figures, such as former President Bill Clinton.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Trump signed into law in November 2025, requires the disclosure of all unclassified records related to the Epstein investigation. Many lawmakers now claim the DOJ is violating both the spirit and the letter of that law.
