US Justice Department: Removal of Trump Photos from Epstein Files Aimed at Protecting Victims

NBC Interview

Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General of the United States, stated that the Department of Justice’s decision to remove the so-called 'Epstein files' photos related to President Donald Trump, which were recently released and then deleted, was made to protect victims rather than for political reasons.

In an interview with NBC on the 21st (local time), Deputy Attorney General Blanche said, "The photos include women," and added, "After the release, we became aware of concerns regarding these women, so we decided to take the photos down."

He further explained, "If we receive concerns from the victims themselves, their attorneys, or victim advocacy groups about the possibility of identification, the Department of Justice removes the relevant materials and conducts an investigation."

He firmly rejected claims that deleting the photos suggests a connection between President Trump and the victims.

Deputy Attorney General Blanche stated, "If we had determined that any of the survivors of Epstein's crimes were included in those photos, we would not have released them without obscuring their faces in the first place." He added that the photos are currently under review and will be released again once the review is complete.

When asked whether all documents and photos related to President Trump included in the Epstein files would be made public, Blanche answered, "Yes," and clarified, "If President Trump is mentioned or if there are photos of him, they will be released." However, he emphasized, "The fact that President Trump appears in the files does not mean he was involved in Epstein’s crimes."

He explained that the delay in the full release of the Epstein files was due to the time required to ensure that the names and related information of victims were sufficiently protected. He added, "Releasing a large amount of victim information could itself constitute a real crime."

Previously, the U.S. Department of Justice began releasing investigation files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on the 19th. This action was taken in accordance with the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act,' which passed both the House and Senate nearly unanimously last November and was signed by President Trump. However, controversy has grown after it was revealed that the Department of Justice deleted 16 items, including photos of President Trump, just one day after their release.