US Justice Department Deletes Some 'Epstein Files,' Including Trump Photos, One Day After Release

16 Files Deleted Just One Day After Release
Democratic Lawmakers Voice Objections

Controversy has arisen after the U.S. Department of Justice deleted 16 files related to Jeffrey Epstein (1953-2019), a convicted sex offender of minors, just one day after making them public.

Photo of a drawer containing a picture of Donald Trump, President of the United States. Released by the U.S. Department of Justice. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to major foreign media outlets such as the Associated Press, the Department of Justice created a website and released the files on December 19 (local time), but deleted some of them on the 20th.

Among the deleted photos was one featuring President Donald Trump. The photo showed furniture from Epstein's Manhattan residence, and inside an open drawer, a picture of Trump was visible. Melania Trump, his wife, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, also appeared in the photo with Trump.

The deleted photos did not have separate descriptions, but they are presumed to be materials obtained when investigators searched Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse in 2019.

About 10 of the deleted images were artworks or photographs that included female nudity.

Most of the photos released on December 19, including those depicting female nudity, remain available, but none of the remaining undeleted photos feature President Trump.

Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee posted the deleted photos they had saved on social media on the 20th, and asked Attorney General Pam Bondi whether the images had indeed been deleted. They also questioned, "What else is being covered up?" and emphasized, "Transparency is needed for the American public."

The Department of Justice did not provide a reason for the deletion on its website, and its spokesperson did not respond to media inquiries. However, the Department posted on social media platform X, stating, "As we obtain additional information, photos and other materials will continue to be reviewed and edited in compliance with the law, with caution." The White House referred related questions to the Department of Justice.

The Department of Justice released additional Epstein-related materials on the 20th, following the initial release on the 19th, and plans to continue disclosing documents over the coming weeks.