DOJ Restores Trump Photo to Epstein Files After Internal Review

The U.S. Department of Justice has reinstated a photograph of former president Donald Trump in its publicly accessible database of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following an internal review that concluded the image did not include any known victims, according to officials.

The photograph, showing Trump standing with several women, had been briefly removed after the Justice Department released thousands of pages of Epstein-related records on Friday. The disclosure was made under a transparency mandate requiring federal authorities to publish previously sealed or restricted Epstein files, subject to redactions to protect victims and witnesses.

Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York initially pulled the image as a precaution, citing uncertainty over whether any individuals pictured could be Epstein victims. After further examination, the department determined there was no basis to keep the photo withheld and restored it to the database without modification.

• DOJ restores Trump photo to Epstein files after internal review
• Justice Department says reinstated image shows no Epstein victims
• Epstein document release sparks scrutiny over transparency and redactions

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the decision to remove and later reinstate the image was based solely on victim protection concerns and not on the identity of Trump or any political considerations. He stated that the department found no indication that the women in the photograph were connected to Epstein’s criminal conduct.

The temporary removal of the image drew criticism from Republican lawmakers and commentators, who accused the Justice Department of selectively withholding material involving Trump. Democrats, meanwhile, questioned whether the broader document release complied fully with the transparency law, pointing to extensive redactions and missing records.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for further scrutiny of the Justice Department’s handling of the release, saying Congress should examine whether the law was implemented as intended. Victims’ advocates have also urged caution, warning that public disclosures can retraumatize survivors if not carefully reviewed.

Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but has denied any involvement in or knowledge of his crimes. He has not been accused of wrongdoing in the Epstein case.

Also Read: Vietnam Leadership Talks Intensify as Communist Party Convenes

The Justice Department said it will continue reviewing the remaining files to balance public access with legal obligations to protect victims.